Alex Ovechkin put back a rebound and skated into the spotlight as the latest member of the NHLsa国际传媒檚 600-goal club.
The captain of the Washington Capitals scored twice Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets to reach the milestone in his 990th regular-season game. Ovechkin became the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to 600 behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull.
News | Becomes Fourth-Fastest Player in History to Score 600 Goals
sa国际传媒� Washington Capitals (@Capitals)
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Ovechkinsa国际传媒檚 rebound goal past Connor Hellebuyck 3:53 into the second period was his 42nd of the season as he tries to hit 50 for the eighth time. His first goal 4:35 into the first period came on a 5-on-3 power play as the Russian winger looked determined to reach 600 after several games on the doorstep.
Capitals fans who have watched Ovechkin shine as the most productive goal scorer of the past decade-plus gave him a standing ovation for almost a minute after he reached the mark. Chants of sa国际传媒淥vi! Ovi!sa国际传媒� continued as he waved from the bench in the moments after and during a video montage at the next timeout.
After scoring 33 goals in 2016-17, his second-lowest total in a non-lockout-shortened season, the 32-year-old Ovechkinsa国际传媒檚 resurgence made his climb to 600 all the more impressive. No player 32 or older has led the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito in 1974-75.
sa国际传媒淗e probably is the best goal scorer of our generation,sa国际传媒� said Tom Wilson, who had the primary assist on Ovechkinsa国际传媒檚 600th. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 pretty fun when every time you get him the puck theresa国际传媒檚 a good chance hesa国际传媒檚 going to put it in the back of the net.sa国际传媒�
Ovechkin recaptured sole possession of the NHL lead against Jets winger Patrik Laine, who had tied him after idolizing the star forward growing up. Even while hoping Ovechkin wouldnsa国际传媒檛 score No. 600 against Winnipeg, Laine cansa国际传媒檛 help but appreciate the scoring pace.
sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 pretty amazing to reach that,sa国际传媒� Laine said Monday morning. sa国际传媒淪ix-hundred goals in under 1,000 games, itsa国际传媒檚 pretty unreal.sa国际传媒�
Two former Capitals teammates, Matt Hendricks and Mathieu Perreault, were watching from the Jetssa国际传媒� side when Ovechkin reached his latest round number in a career full of accomplishments.
sa国际传媒淲hen I played here, itsa国际传媒檚 funny, you always want to get the puck on his stick,sa国际传媒� said Hendricks, who was in the penalty box for Ovechkinsa国际传媒檚 first goal. sa国际传媒淗e has that ability to change games just like that. sa国际传媒� Ovisa国际传媒檚 a terrific talent.sa国际传媒�
Perreault, who played with 684-goal scorer Teemu Selanne in Anaheim, said Ovechkin reaching 600 so quickly was indescribable.
sa国际传媒淭he way he can shoot the puck and score goals is beyond what you can even think about,sa国际传媒� Perreault said. sa国际传媒淚 can tell my grandkids, my kids, I played with Ovechkin. Hesa国际传媒檚 going to be a legend of the game.sa国际传媒�
Ovechkin has been an impressive scorer for a long time, but had to adapt his game several years ago when opponents figured out how to stop some of his usual moves. Barry Trotz taking over as Capitals coach helped Ovechkin round out his overall game and avoid the kind of lull that goal-scorers typically hit when they turn 30.
The growth in Ovechkinsa国际传媒檚 game isnsa国际传媒檛 lost on players and coaches around the league who have watched his career.
sa国际传媒淲hen he came in (he was) a hitter almost sa国际传媒� a shooter and a hitter,sa国际传媒� Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. sa国际传媒淗e was a very physical player, covered an awful lot of ice during the games. And hesa国际传媒檚 matured into kind of picking his spots, hesa国际传媒檚 still a hard guy to play against, physically very, very strong.
sa国际传媒淏ut he uses the people around him better, maybe. And thatsa国际传媒檚 true of all players. But his game has really changed. Hesa国际传媒檚 really grown and matured.sa国际传媒�
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
