The Washington Capitals have trailed in the third period in each of their previous two games including Saturday night. Each time captain Alexander Ovechkin scored to lead a comeback.
On Saturday, the Russian star blasted a rocket past league-leading goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to tie the game with the Winnipeg Jets at 4-4.
The shot, appropriately reminiscent of his first couple years in the league as the team honored the 1997-2005 era of the franchise, saw the 6-foot-3 Ovechkin step into the puck with his full weight like a heat-seeking missile.
It was his 56th career goal and 101st point against the Winnipeg/Atlanta franchise (74 games played), the most he’s scored against any team.
“The Great Eight,” as he’s called, now has 24 goals on the season and 877 in his career. With roughly three months left until the playoffs, Ovechkin is just 18 short of passing Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for most all-time (894).
Despite Ovechkin and Washington’s comeback effort, the result was the same as Thursday against the Ottawa Senators — a 5-4 loss in overtime.
