Alexander Ovechkin’s 531st NHL goal came in typical Ovechkin-fashion.
Ovechkin blasted a power play goal from his familiar face off dot on the power play to give his Washington Capitals a win over the Winnipeg Jets.
That tally happened to be Ovechkin’s 91st game-winning goal, which puts him among elite company.
That 91st winner ties Ovechkin with Wayne Gretzky and Mark Recchi for the 16th-most all-time in the NHL.
According to Capitals.com writer Mike Vogel, Ovechkin scored his 91st game-winning goal 630 games faster than Gretzky.
By my count, Gretzky’s last GWG (his 91st) came in the 1,479th game of his NHL career. Ovechkin scored his 91st in career game No. 849. https://t.co/CeMKQ07oFB
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) November 4, 2016
If Ovechkin is able to maintain his pace and finish with as many career games as Gretzky, Ovechkin will finish with 159 game-winning goals. It’s a lofty expectation, as Ovechkin’s goal scoring pace will naturally decline with age, but Ovechkin should be able to finish among the top scorers of all time in game winning goals.
The No. 1 distinction in the respective category currently belongs to Jaromir Jagr. The current Florida Panther has 133 game-winning goals in 1,640 games.
The Capitals play the Panthers on Saturday.
• Tommy Chalk can be reached at tchalk@washingtontimes.com.
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