Alex Ovechkin’s 750th Career Goal Is His 118th Game-Winning Goal – Tying Phil Esposito for Third Place All Time

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Washington Capitals’ Captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 750th career goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. It was not only his 750th career goal and his 20th goal of the 2021-22 season, but it was also the 118th game-winning goal of his NHL career, tying him with Phil Esposito for third place on the all-time list for game-winning goals.

With the score 1-0 in favor of the Capitals, Ovechkin scored at 3:12 into the second period, getting an assist from John Carlson.

7⃣5⃣0⃣‼️ #ALLCAPS #CapsJackets pic.twitter.com/sey288e3Fw

— NBC Sports Washington (@NBCSWashington) December 5, 2021

The Capitals ultimately went on to win the game, 3-1. Thus, Ovechkin’s goal was the eventual game-winner. The goal also marked Ovechkin’s 17th-straight season of scoring 20 or more goals. He’s only the seventh player ever to achieve the milestone.

With two more game-winning goals Ovechkin will tie Gordie Howe at 120. Three more game-winning goals will give him sole possession of second place. Jaromir Jagr is first on the all-time list with 135.

Per NHL.com Public relations, Ovechkin had a number of accomplishments on Saturday night:

The Capitals captain became the seventh player in NHL history to record 20 goals in 17 consecutive seasons. Only two players posted a longer run: Gordie Howe (22) and Brendan Shanahan (19).
Ovechkin (36 years, 78 days) required the fewest games by a player age 36 or older to reach 20 goals in a season, doing so in his 25th contest. The previous mark was held by Shanahan who was 37 years, 314 days at the time of his 20th tally in 2006-07 (27 GP).
Ovechkin scored his 118th career game-winning goal, which tied Phil Esposito (118) for the third most on the NHL’s all-time list.
Ovechkin (750-609—1,359 in 1,222 GP) became the second-fastest player in NHL history to score 750 goals (1,222 GP) behind only Wayne Gretzky (1,001 GP).