MORE: POWER RANKINGS | NHL ON NBC SCHEDULE

Mike Gartner

Alex Ovechkin scores 700th goal with a blast

By James O'BrienFeb 22, 2020, 3:11 PM EST
2 Comments

He did it. Alex Ovechkin scored his 700th career goal on Saturday as the Capitals faced the Devils.

Ovechkin scored his historic goal from the opposite faceoff circle from his typical “office.” It was a significant goal, tying Washington 2-2 with New Jersey a few minutes into the third period. Ovechkin reaching his 700th goal with such gusto really adds to the experience.

(Watch video of Ovechkin scoring his 700th goal in the video above.)

Ovechkin makes history with 700th goal

It marks his second goal in as many games after sitting at 698 goals for five agonizing contests. Well, they were agonizing for those anxiously awaiting number 700. Ovechkin’s response was basically “Whatever.” Ovechkin scored 30 of his 700 career goals against the Devils.

Ovechkin joins an illustrious group including Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801), Jaromir Jagr (766), Brett Hull (741), Marcel Dionne (731), Phil Esposito (717) and Mike Gartner (708). Ovechkin became the second player to score 700+ goals with a single team, as Howe scored 786 with the Red Wings before continuing a hockey journey that eventually included playing alongside his sons.

Jagr was the most recent player to reach 700 on March 1, 2014.

Ovechkin scored goal No. 699 in an OT loss to the Canadiens after five straight games without a point. No. 8 controlled a rolling puck after Nicklas Backstrom won a faceoff cleanly in the offensive zone, then fired a wrist shot past Carey Price.

Ovechkin, 34, became the second youngest and fastest player (1144 games) to score 700 goals, trailing Gretzky who was 29 years old (886 games) when he scored his 700th in January 1991 as a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

Earlier this month, Ovi also became only the second player to score 40 goals in 11 seasons, trailing Gretzky’s record of 12. Ovechkin now has 42 goals in 60 games this season, giving himself a shot at another Maurice Richard Trophy.

The Devils ended up beating the Capitals 3-2. Maybe Washington can get back on track now that Ovechkin got this 700th goal out of the way? Their struggles aren’t on Ovechkin, but the Caps are struggling as a team nonetheless. (They have to be pleased with Pittsburgh losing to the Sabres on Saturday, though.)

Ovechkin’s quest for 700th goal:

—

James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.

Alex Ovechkin passes Mark Messier for eighth all-time with 695th goal

via the NHL
By James O'BrienJan 31, 2020, 10:46 PM EST
1 Comment

If it weren’t for winning a Stanley Cup, this might have stood as the most memorable week* of Alex Ovechkin‘s career. Ovechkin tied and then passed Mark Messier for eighth all-time in goal-scoring on Friday. Ovechkin scored two goals to reach 695 for his career as the Capitals beat the Senators 5-3.

Ovechkin ties Messier with goal 694

Ovechkin extended his current goal streak to five games during the second period. Rather than being the Ovechkin goal you can picture in your sleep, he scored this from the opposite faceoff circle.

Ovechkin passes Messier, stands alone at eighth with goal 695

The Ovechkin didn’t need long to break that tie with Messier. He iced Washington’s win with an empty-netter. Watch both goals below:

Again, this caps quite a week for Ovechkin. Ovechkin mourned Kobe Bryant’s passing on Wednesday by wearing number 24 during warm-ups. During that same game, Ovechkin tied then passed Steve Yzerman for ninth all-time in scoring.

Yzerman provided some fun fodder following Ovechkin pushing him down the ranks, asking to be invited to the party if Ovechkin breaks the all-time goals record (894 by Wayne Gretzky, of course).

Messier praised Ovechkin’s skill in spirit in congratulating “The Great 8” on moving to eighth.

People get tempted to only look in the past when a player piles up milestone like Ovechkin is right now. Yet, Ovechkin’s sniping remains relevant in the present. His two goals push him to 37 on the season. Being that David Pastrnak came into Friday with the league lead at 37, Ovechkin also eyes another possible Maurice Richard Trophy. When you consider the past and present, is there any sense in doubting Ovechkin?

Beyond that race, Ovechkin also eyes 700 goals and Mike Gartner at seventh (708). The Capitals have 30 regular-season games remaining in 2019-20, so don’t be shocked if he reaches both of those marks this season.

* – Then again, Ovechkin might not remember much from that time, considering how hard he partied.

—

James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.

Video: Jaromir Jagr scores 700th career goal

By Joe YerdonMar 1, 2014, 3:20 PM EST
10 Comments

Jaromir Jagr’s has another achievement to add to his future Hall of Fame career .

Jagr scored his 700th career goal to give the Devils a 2-0 lead in the first period against the New York Islanders. Jagr is the seventh player to reach the 700-goal plateau all-time and is now eight goals behind Mike Gartner for sixth all-time in goals scored.

It may not have been a highlight-reel type of goal for the 42-year-old winger from Kladno, but they all count the same when they beat the goalie. Check out Jagr’s milestone goal with the call from the Devils broadcast.

As for how the all-time goal scorers list looks, here’s the company Jagr is keeping.

  1. Wayne Gretzky – 894
  2. Gordie Howe – 801
  3. Brett Hull – 741
  4. Marcel Dionne – 731
  5. Phil Esposito – 717
  6. Mike Gartner – 708
  7. Jaromir Jagr – 700

 

Not a bad group to be associated with.

Winter Classic alumni game rosters have plenty of stars

By Joe YerdonNov 25, 2011, 3:33 PM EST
5 Comments

The 2012 Winter Classic alumni game is going to be loaded with stars from both the Rangers and Flyers as both teams announced the rosters they’ll be using for the game in Philadelphia.

We already knew about Eric Lindros and Bobby Clarke taking part in things for the Flyers, but they’ll also be joined by the likes of Rick Tocchet, Mark Recchi, Brian Propp, John LeClair, Mark Howe, and NBC’s own Jeremy Roenick among a host of other former Flyers from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Sadly, Mikael Renberg won’t be there to bring us the “Legion of Doom” line. Flyers fans can feel better though because the classic line from the Broad Street Bullies years of Clarke, Bill Barber, and Reggie Leach will be there.

For the Rangers, they’ll run out notable stars like Glenn Anderson, Mike Gartner, Adam Graves, Brian Leetch, and Darius Kasparaitis. Some guys you won’t be seeing, however, are Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Mike Richter. While we knew Gretzky wouldn’t be playing, Messier and Richter have medical reasons for missing out right now. Messier is getting shoulder surgery but hopes to play while Richter is hoping to be cleared by his doctor.

Hey, maybe John Vanbiesbrouck and Dan Blackburn can help you feel better about the Rangers in goal. Either way, the Rangers are still bringing a bit more name presence to the net for the game as the Flyers will trot out Mark LaForest and Neil Little in goal.

No matter what, the game on December 31 will set the table nicely for the Winter Classic itself. If you want to check out the full roster, NHL.com has you taken care of there.

Best and worst sweaters of all-time: Washington Capitals

By Joe YerdonAug 12, 2011, 10:45 AM EDT
4 Comments

When you’re the team that’s got all the hype and are all the rage for new fans in the nation’s capital, it helps to have a great look to make sure everyone wants to buy your stuff. The Capitals more than pulled that off in Washington with just a little bit of help from Alex Ovechkin. It also helps that owner Ted Leonsis was eager to embrace the team’s history as well.

Best: While the Caps have a history unto themselves of different looks, their current take on their original logo with a modernized RBK Edge sweater is their best look. The home reds and road whites look clean, smooth, and excellent and their home sweaters are the ones that stand out the best. After all, Alex Ovechkin helped put people back in the seats in Washington, but he also helped them “rock the red” as well and made the Caps sweater the one new fans had to have.

Worst: There was a period in D.C. where both of their hockey and basketball teams changed up their look and decided to be modern and hip for the time. Both teams went away from the red, white, and blue color scheme to one that centered on a teal-blue-ish color with black and gold mixed in for good measure. In the Caps’ case, their road teal-blue sweater with the “screaming eagle” logo seemed like the biggest slap in the face, especially when you consider what they Caps had been wearing before that that looked so good comparatively. Wearing these sweaters around Caps games these days will get you looked at as if you’re a NARC.

Old-timey favorite: The Caps’ original sweater scheme was really an enjoyable look. It was bright (red and white dominating the look), it did its best to make the Capitals’ logo stand out, and it had stars. There were lots of red, white, and blue stars everywhere as they were on the chest of the sweater and down the sleeves. While it had a slight touch of 1970s horror to them, the look was a unique one for the team and one that helped you grow attached to guys like Peter Bondra, Mike Gartner and Rod Langway.

Assessment: I’ve already heaped a ton of praise on the Caps’ current look and it’s for good reason. Taking an old look and improving on it is something that’s apparently tough for other teams to pull off. In the Caps’ case, they did it perfect. The new logo is sleek and eliminating stars from the sweater was the right move. When it comes to the Reebok-style sweaters, the Caps were the one team that got it right with how to make it look good. While there’s been talk that the Caps will someday, eventually, add a third sweater using their fantastic “weagle” secondary logo, let’s hope they don’t botch it by trying to use a blue sweater and put a torpedo in their ever-present “Rock The Red” campaign.