Alex Ovechkin scores 767th goal to pass Jaromir Jagr for third all-time on the NHL scoring list by DJ Hamilton
On Tuesday night, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin passed hockey legend Jaromir Jagr with his second goal against the New York Islanders for third all-time on the NHL scoring list, scoring his 767th career goal against the Islanders in a 4-3 victory. It happened with 4:58 left in the third period as Ovechkin snapped the puck over the glove of Islander goalie Semyon Varlamov, his former teammate, for his 37th goal of the season.
The Capitals bench rushed the ice as Ovechkin’s teammates surrounded their legendary captain in the huddle after this tremendous feat, as Ovechkin tapped his heart and saluted the fans roaring him on. Ovechkin expressed his gratitude for this accomplishment by stating, "This means a lot. For this organization, for the fans, for my family watching right now in Russia. I'm very excited. Very happy. It's nice to be No. 1 all time for [players] from Europe. It's very special, it's a proud moment for all of us. Great for hockey."
This was Ovechkin’s 1,256th career game as the 36 year old now trails, labeled by many the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky, by 127 goals for the all-time record (894), which Gretzky set in 1,487 games. For now, Ovechkin sets his eyes on another legendary player in hockey lore, Gordie Howe, who has 801 career goals, which he set in 1,767 career games, which seems very attainable for Ovechkin to surpass.
Jagr, who Ovechkin recently passed, scored 766 career goals across 24 NHL seasons 1990-2018 (missing three seasons 2008-11) while playing in the Kontinental Hockey League, last playing in the NHL during the 2017-18 season for the Calgary Flames.
Ovechkin currently has the Capitals in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference with a record of 33-18 as they look to continue to make a playoff push.
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