Alexander Ovechkin performed a hockey recreation on Tuesday, so naturally he made extra NHL historical past.
The Russian star for the Washington Capitals helped his workforce out to a quick and early lead towards the New York Rangers, notching two objectives within the first interval alone.
His two tallies had been profession objectives Nos. 856 and 857, making him simply 37 wanting Hockey Corridor of Famer Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL document (894).
However on high of inching nearer to “The Nice One,” Ovechkin climbed three different notable leaderboards along with his first-period efforts Tuesday.
Ovechkin’s two objectives allowed him to go Jaromir Jagr (538) for third on the league’s all-time even-strength aim checklist with 540. Solely Gretzky (617) and Gordie Howe (566) are forward of him now.
Along with that, Ovechkin’s two-goal first interval marked his 82nd multi-goal period of his profession. Gretzky (90) is the one different participant in NHL historical past with extra.
It was additionally his 174th career multi-goal game, simply 15 behind — you guessed it — Gretzky who leads the all-time checklist with 189.
Ovechkin’s markers Tuesday had been his third and fourth in 11 career games towards New York goalie Igor Shesterkin, a fellow Russian.
Washington prevailed 5-3 in its first assembly with the Rangers, who swept the workforce in the course of the opening spherical of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.