Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
In the Capitals’ 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night, Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin played in career game 1,302, which allowed him to pass former Capitals’ defenseman Sergei Gonchar (1301) for most games played by a Russian player. More importantly, he added career goals 794 and 795, moving to within 99 goals of Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin had several shots on goal throughout the game but was held without a goal until 18:25 of the third period. This gave the Capitals a 3-1 lead, essentially sealing the victory.
7️⃣9️⃣4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/m6ixedybzf
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2022
This empty net goal was the 50th empty net goal of Ovechkin’s career. He was assisted by Anthony Mantha and John Carlson.
SEVEN. NINETY. FIVE!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/lDsiDt1iOI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2022
Ovechkin added a second empty net tally at 19:51, which increased the Capitals lead to 4-1, the final score. The assists were from Evgeny Kuznetsov and Conor Sheary. With two empty net goals for the night, his career total is now 51. He ranks second in career empty net goals to Wayne Gretzky (56).
7️⃣9️⃣5️⃣ pic.twitter.com/HJL5YDEdV6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2022
Ovechkin now has 15 goals for the season and 795 career goals. He is just five goals from 20 goals for the season, 800 for his career, and needs just six more goals to tie Gordie Howe for second on the all-time list. Ovechkin is now just 99 goals behind #99 himself, Wayne Gretzky, who is first in career goals with 894.
Hear Alex Ovechkin net the 795th goal of his NHL career to help #ALLCAPS secure 4-1 win in Philadelphia as heard on @CapitalsRadio
Ovechkin is now within 99 goals of No.99 for the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring record pic.twitter.com/RffNhV1GSi
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) December 8, 2022
Ovechkin is now on pace to score 43 goals this season. Should Ovechkin reach the 40-goal mark, it would mark his 13th career 40-goal season, passing Gretzky (12) for the most in NHL history.
The only Russian who has played in more NHL games than Ovechkin was Alex Kovelev who played in 1316 career games. Ovechkin needs to play in 15 more games to have the record for the most NHL games played by a Russian player.
By Diane Doyle
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Great ending for the game and two nice insurance goals to “ice” the win.
It’s getting closer!
NHL also said: The two goals also gave Ovechkin 499 at even strength, leaving him one from becoming the fourth player to get 500. He’d join Gretzky (617), Howe (566) and Jaromir Jagr (538). Ovechkin had his 405th multipoint game, passing Ray Bourque for 13th in NHL history. The only active player with more is Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins (430).
Thanks Fyre, I didn’t catch that.
99 goals in the net, 99 goals in the net, take another shot, 98 goals in the net!! As it was said in The Waterboy…You can do it, you can do it all game long!