Alexander Ovechkin is officially on another one of his trademark goal-scoring heaters. He’s scored eight goals in as many games played since Jan. 30.
The 39-year-old captain of the Washington Capitals notched his 30th goal of the season on Tuesday in the third period against the Calgary Flames.
He now joins Hockey Hall of Famers Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk and Teemu Selanne as the only players in NHL history to record 30 goals in a single season aged 39 or older.
Ovechkin also hit 30 goals scored in his 42nd game played, the only player in history to do so before the 50-game mark. It’s his 19th season reaching the milestone in his 20-year career, an NHL record he set last season.
Tuesday’s tally was the 883rd of his career, leaving him now just 12 goals short of passing Wayne Gretzky for most all-time (894).
As he approaches that illustrious record, he can also become the 10th player in NHL history to reach 1,600 career points. He sits just three points away from that milestone.
Despite Ovechkin’s history-making night, Washington fell 3-1 to Calgary but remains in the hunt for the Presidents’ Trophy as one of the best teams in the league.
