Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Ovechkin becomes Capitals’ all-time franchise goals leader

Washington Capitals v Buffalo Sabres

of the Buffalo Sabres of the Washington Capitals on March 16, 2015 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York.

Bill Wippert

Alex Ovechkin reached the 50-goal mark and tied Peter Bondra for first place in the Capitals’ all-time goals leaderboard with 472 on Tuesday. He didn’t have to wait much longer to claim sole possession of the top spot.

With the Capitals on the power play, Ovechkin weaved through Canadiens blueliner P.K. Subban before beating goaltender Carey Price with a wrist shot:

Ovechkin is also the Capitals’ all-time leader in points, although he ranks second in assists behind Nicklas Backstrom.

On the NHL’s career leaderboard, Ovechkin’s 473 goals puts him in a three-way tie for 51st place with Denis Savard and Alexander Mogilny. Not bad for a 29-year-old.

The Capitals captain looks like a lock to win his third straight Richard Trophy and fifth overall. The bigger question at this point is if he’ll take the Hart Trophy for the fourth time. Ovechkin would certainly appreciate it if he won, but he emphasized that individual trophies aren’t his goal.

“To be honest with you, I don’t need that kind of stuff [individual awards],” Ovechkin told ESPN prior to tonight’s contest. “If I win, it will be great, but I need, this organization needs, a Cup. I want to be selfish in that kind of category instead.”

Follow @RyanDadoun