Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin scores goal No. 886; 1,600th NHL point

The GR8 continues to hunt down The Great One.

On Sunday afternoon in the U.S. capital, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored goal No. 886 of his NHL career. It also marked the 1,600th point of his 20-year tenure in the league.

The goal came as many have for Ovechkin this season. The Capitals were leading the Seattle Kraken by one in the waning minutes of the game. With the Kraken net empty, Ovi was able to shovel the puck from center ice, backhanded, and into the goal to seal the victory.

The Capitals went on to win the game by a final score of 4-2.

Ovechkin became the 11th player in NHL history to reach 1,600 points. His longtime rival, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, reached the mark earlier this season. Ovechkin is 41 points behind Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic for 10th all-time in NHL scoring, sitting 63 behind Crosby, who is ninth.

It was the Russian winger’s third goal in his last five games and the 65th empty-netter, the most in NHL history. Since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, Ovechkin has potted seven goals in eight games, including a hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 23.

It was the 33rd goal of the season for the 39-year-old in his 47th game of the season. Ovechkin arguably could be closer to Gretzky’s record, if not already passed it, had he suffered a lower-body injury earlier this season that forced him to miss considerable time.

With 18 games remaining in the regular season, Ovi has to average a goal every other game to break the record.

In 1,474 career games, Ovechkin has registered 714 assists. He has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times, scoring 50 or more goals on nine occasions, and scoring a career-high 65 goals during the 2007-08 campaign.

The Capitals (42-14-8) are tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the best record in the NHL.