WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin didn’t take long to tie one goal together and move the second away from Breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record.
Ovechkin drove Spencer Night 3:52 into the Washington Capitals’ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. He took a pass from Dylan Strom behind the net and banked the puck from the far post and the knight’s back.
A few seconds later, Ovechkin’s personal goal song, Big Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” began to ring from the arena speakers as the mascot’s slap shot flipped the counter from 892 to 893. Fans chanted “Ovi!” ovi! “It resumed before and after playing.
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Ovechkin approached making hockey history with Gretzky in attendance for the first time during the chase.
Ovechkin, who scored in his fourth straight game, reached 40 goals for the 14th in 20 seasons. This is the most in league history. This was the second 40-goal season for players over 39, joining Gordie Howe (1968-69, 44).
It was also the first goal of Ovechkin’s 242nd career, beating the most in league history to Thailand with Gretzky.
The Eastern Conference-leading Capitals have six games left in the regular season and will visit New York Islanders next Sunday.
This report used information from ESPN Research and Associated Press.
