Alex Ovechkin Scores Goal #718 – Passes Phil Esposito For Sixth Place On All Time List

Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 718th career goal Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. The goal moves Ovechkin into 6th place on the NHL’s all time career goals list, passing Phil Esposito.

The goal occurred late in the second period on a power play, giving the Capitals a 2-0 lead.

Making history from his office…what else is new? pic.twitter.com/apjCpRFxqp

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 17, 2021

With the power play goal, Ovechkin is two power play goals shy of passing Brett Hull (265) for the second-most power play goals in NHL history.

Ovechkin’s 0.61 goals per game rate (718g in 1,177 games) is the highest among the NHL’s eight players who have reached the 700-goal milestone.

The legend of the #Gr8 grows and grows and grows.

Congrats to Ovi on moving into sixth place on the NHL’s all-time goals list! #ALLCAPS | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/7NXzHyrKgN

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 17, 2021

This was Ovechkin’s 12th goal of the season, his fourth consecutive game where he scored a goal and his fifth goal in six games.

Earlier in the game, he gained his 1300 NHL career point as the second assist on a goal by T.J. Oshie. Evgeny Kuznetsov had the primary assist on the goal.

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Ovechkin tied Esposito in their 6-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres on March 15.

On February 4, Ovechkin passed Mike Gartner to take over sole possession of seventh place in career goals in the Caps 4-2 loss against the New York Rangers.

On January 30, Ovechkin tied Gartner in career goals when he scored an overtime game winner against the Boston Bruins.

The next goal scoring milestones for Ovechkin will be to tie Marcel Dionne, who is in fifth place with 731 career goals, and Jaromir Jagr, who is in fourth place with 741 career goals.