Photo: NHL
The milestones continue for Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin. With two goals and an assist against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night, Ovechkin passed Stan Mikita (1,467) for sixteenth place in NHL career points. Ovechkin now has 1,470 career points.
Ovechkin tied Mikita in career points on February 26 against the Buffalo Sabres and surpassed Mikita on Saturday night against the Sharks. Ovechkin earned point #1,468 at 5:50 into the third period on a power play goal by T.J. Oshie. Ovechkin had the primary assist. This was Ovechkin’s 24th assist of the season.
#ALLCAPS 5-2. OSHIE SCORE, PPG. OVI ASSIST. SANDIN ASSIST pic.twitter.com/xzcSF7PIan
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 5, 2023
Ovechkin added two goals for points #1,469 and #1,470 on Saturday night. His first goal of the evening came at 9:11 of the third period, just nine seconds after San Jose scored. Ovechkin’s goal increased the Caps lead to 6-3.
#ALLCAPS 6-3. OVECHKIN SCORES. YESSS. THIS SHIT MEANS SOMETHING TO MEEEEE MAN pic.twitter.com/Bq0yMuWbDv
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 5, 2023
Ovechkin added another goal at 16:05 of the third period for his second of the game, his 35th goal of the season, and the 815th of his career. Vincent Iorio, who made his NHL debut on Saturday night, had the primary assist on that goal. (Vinnie was two-years old when Ovechkin debuted in the NHL.)
Wins are fun…
MULTI-GOAL OVI WINS ARE GR8! pic.twitter.com/nj6SnfS4CT
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 5, 2023
Passing Stan Mikita in points wasn’t the only Ovechkin career milestone achieved on Saturday night. He also recorded his 130th three-point game (tied for 10th in NHL history) and his 27th multi-goal third period (tied for 2nd most in NHL history).
Tonight’s @ovi8 update:
🚨 Passed Stan Mikita on the all-time points list
🚨 Recorded his 130th three-point game (tied for 20th in NHL history)
🚨 Recorded his 27th multi-goal third period (tied for 2nd most in NHL history)#NHLStats: https://t.co/gLoRa3pvfh pic.twitter.com/bWcv8XoBg6— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 5, 2023
Ovechkin also scored his first career goal against Kaapo Kahkonen, who was the 168th different goaltender against whom he has scored. Only Jaromir Jagr (178) and Patrick Marleau (177) have scored on more goaltenders during their careers.
The Caps went on to win the game 8-3, a game notable for the NHL debut of defenseman Vincent Iorio and the Capitals’ debuts of Rasmus Sandin and Gabriel Carlsson.
By Diane Doyle
Related Reading
Made It to the Show: Capitals; Vincent Iorio Makes NHL Debut Against San Jose Sharks
More Alex Ovechkin Milestones: Career NHL Goals and Power Play Goals
Capitals Win Fifth Straight, 7-3, In Chicago; Ovechkin Scores Hat Trick, Including 800th Career Goal
To me the goalie notches on his hockey stick is still one of his greatest records.
The NYT has an interesting article on Jagr, “The 51-Year-Old Hockey Star Who Won’t Quit.” It’s been repeated in numerous publications which don’t have a paywall.