Alex Ovechkin scored the 889th goal of his career on Tuesday evening and is now six goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record.
Ovechkin recorded the binding goal in the third period to help the Washington Capitals, to force overtime and win a point. The Winnipeg Jets won 3: 2 in the additional session.
It was a remarkable run this season for the eastern cities and Ovechkin, which reached 42 goals in the campaign, which seemed to be unapproachable. He exposed himself to 16 games because of a broken leg, but took up his persecution in December.
The 39-year-old Russian in his 20th NHL season took a pass from Linemate Aliaksei Protas on Tuesday evening and shot a wrist shot on the Vezina Trophy front manager Connor Hellebuyck to connect the score.
Ovechkin, who called the third star of the game, had four shots on the net and ended with 17:42 time on ice in 19 layers.
“Everyone did a great job and the puck came up (Protas) and he finds me,” said Ovechkin. “It was a pretty good game from everyone.”
Coach Spencer Carbery called it “a big game in a big moment to combine the game”. It will be his job to find the best situations to put Ovechkin in the position.
“He obviously wants to be out there, and then I just make it with certain matchups and certain situations,” said Carbery. “This is something he and I talked about and we somehow work through the situation and the fact of the game.”
Ovechkin has 36 goals this season and is on the right track to reach the 14th time 40 in the history of the league, despite his absence in the league. The limelight continues to get brighter when it gets closer to Gretzky.
“It is what it is,” said Ovechkin. “It is obviously a fun time, but yes, you just have to enjoy it. It is obviously a special moment. Everyone watches. Everyone pay attention to it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
