Russian to Milestones: Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov Earn Career Milestones Against Sabres

Photo: Washington Capitals

In the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night, their two prominent Russian forwards, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov, each reached significant career milestones. Ovechkin tied Brett Hull for fourth place in career goals and also reached the 600 assist threshold. Kuznetsov passed Dennis Maruk (431) for career points with the Capitals and also reached the 300 assist threshold. Kuznetsov now has 434 career points.

Ovechkin scored his 741st career goal at 8:55 in the second period, his 11th of the season, which tied him with Brett Hull for fourth place in career NHL goals. He needs 25 more goals to reach 766 goals, which would tie Jaromir Jagr for third in career goals.

Another #Gr8 goal pic.twitter.com/T3sIad2RRG

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 9, 2021

Ovechkin also added two assists. The two assists put him at the 600 assist total, making him only the second player to reach that milestone for the franchise. The first player to do so was center, Nicklas Backstrom.

As an added bonus, his three assists allowed him to tie and then pass Alex Kovelev for most assists for a Russian born player in the NHL. He is also the ninth active player to reach the 600 assist mark.

Alex Ovechkin earned an assist on the Capitals’ fifth goal, marking his 600th career assist. Ovechkin becomes the ninth active player to reach the 600-assist mark. pic.twitter.com/dmY6DCOab7

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 9, 2021

Evgeny Kuznetsov had a milestone night, too. He had three assists, his first on the Alex Ovechkin goal which allowed him to move past Dennis Maruk into sole possession of 11th place in career points for the Capitals franchise.

With an assist on Ovechkin’s goal, Evgeny Kuznetsov has recorded his 432nd career point to pass Dennis Maruk (431) for 11th on the franchise points list.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 9, 2021

Kuznetsov added two more assists, one on Tom Wilson’s second goal of the game, which put that Caps ahead 4-2 and the other on John Carlson’s goal which put the Caps ahead 5-2. The three assists allowed him to reach the 300 assist threshold and become the 12th player in franchise history to reach that threshold.

Evgeny Kuznetsov recorded three assists against Buffalo, his second three-assist game of the season. Kuznetsov’s third assist also marked his 300th career assist and he becomes the 12th player in franchise history to reach the 300 assist-mark.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 9, 2021

At the end of the night, Ovechkin has 11 goals and 10 assists for the season for 21 points overall. His ranks first in goals and third in overall points, after Leon Draisaitl.(23) and Connor McDavid (22).

By Diane Doyle