Ovechkin Makes NHL History Yet Again For Capitals With PPG Against Stars

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It seems every night, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin hits another NHL milestone. And Sunday against the Dallas Stars was no different.

Just days after passing Jaromir Jagr for third on the NHL’s all-time goals list — and the most goals by a European — the Great 8 tied Wayne Gretzky for an all-time record against Dallas.

With a power-play goal in the second period, Ovechkin recorded his 40th goal of the 2021-22 campaign. The strike ties him with No. 99 for the most 40-goal seasons in league history (12). In true Ovechkin fashion, the tally came off a one-timer from the office.

Ovechkin’s goal was his 770th career goal, and he now has goals in four straight outings. He is the fourth NHL player to hit the 40-goal mark this season and sits behind Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews for the league lead (46). Ovi also now has 76 points on the season and is tied with Kirill Kaprizov for sixth in NHL scoring for 2021-22.

The 36-year-old is now just 32 goals away from passing Gordie Howe for the second-most goals in NHL history and 125 red lights shy of breaking Gretzky’s all-time record.

#⃣4⃣0⃣ pic.twitter.com/N7FNd5njkx

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 20, 2022

It was also Ovechkin’s first-career tally against Jake Oettinger, the 155th goaltender he has scored on. That also moves him past Gretzky for the fifth-most netminders an individual has scored on over his career.

Not only that, but Ovechkin hit the 6,000 career shot mark early in Sunday’s tilt. Since 2005, he has 2,229 more SOG than the next player (Eric Staal at 3,771).