Photo: John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images
On a night when the Edmonton Oilers and their superstar players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, were in town for their lone visit of the season, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin turned in his best performance of the season and provided more than enough highlights to fill a complete highlight reel.
Ovechkin recorded his 788th career goal on Monday night. It was a power play tally at 14:36 in the second period. The goal came on a howitzer delivered from his office and put the Capitals ahead, 4-2.
7️⃣8️⃣8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/SyZMWN0pdY
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 8, 2022
The goal was Ovechkin’s eighth of the season. He is now just 14 goals away from passing Gordie Howe for second place on the all-time goals list.
Possibly Ovechkin’s brightest showing of the night might have come on a non-scoring play. He would enter the zone, dangle past an Oiler, enter the slot and spin-off two more Oilers, creating a quality scoring chance.
JUST GO TO YOUR HOME PUCK pic.twitter.com/yeEfBHbqzK
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 8, 2022
However, Ovechkin had icing for the cake late in the game, assisting on Evgeny Kuznetsov’s second goal of the game at 18:09, giving the Capitals a 5-3 lead. Ovechkin found his fellow countryman with a between-the-legs pass for the open score. The goal proved to be the game-winner.
STILL not over this pass pic.twitter.com/XsFlM5ZHkI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 8, 2022
Ovechkin recorded the 399th multi-point game of his career to pass Adam Oates (398) and tie Mark Recchi (399) for 15th place on the all-time list. Among active players, he is only behind Sidney Crosby, who has 425 multi-point games. Ovechkin’s 399 multi-point games also ranks tied for third for multi-point games by a winger.
Most career multi-point performances by a winger in NHL history:
540- Jaromir Jagr
511- Gordie Howe
399- Alex Ovechkin (Via a goal and an assist in his @Capitals 5-4 defeat of the Oilers tonight)
399- Mark Recchi
395- Guy Lafleur
385- Jari Kurri
382- Brett Hull
382- Teemu Selanne pic.twitter.com/tBykSlmANe— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 8, 2022
The big stage continues this week when Ovechkin and the Capitals host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30PM on TNT.
By Diane Doyle
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Dylan Strome, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov Shine In Capitals’ 5-4 Win Over Oilers
The G.O.A.T. Gains A Goalie: Alex Ovechkin Notches Goal No. 788 Against Edmonton Oilers, Has Scored on A New Goalie In Three Straight Games
NHL’s website says the Puts game is at 7:30 on TNT.
“Ovechkin recorded the 399th multi-point game of his career to pass Adam Oates (399) ” I think one of those 399s has to be wrong if Ovi passed Adam.
That’s been corrected to say Oates at 398
The old man was on fire last night. Hopefully he brings it again on Wednesday.
Great game by Ovi!! However, Diane, I think by “definition” no matter how great a wrist shot is (and it was great), it cannot be called a howitzer. 🙂
Completely disagree.