The season for Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals did not end the way people wanted – a four game sweep at the hands of the Presidents' Cup winning New York Rangers – after making the playoffs in inprobable fashion.
But the 2023-24 NHL Season for Ovechkin was still a tremendous one for the 38-year-old winger.
And because of that, what was once thought to be a distant fairytale, The Great Eight's chase of Wayne Gretzky's hallowed record of 894 goals — the top of the mountain among all-time career goal scorers — now seems distinctly within reach.
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Here the five goals Ovi scored for the Capitals during April 2024.
Career Goal Number 849
With the Capitals down 3-0 in the third period against Pittsburgh, Ovechkin got his first goal in April on the power play (feed by Sonny Milano on a wonderful pass through the crease, and Hendrix Lapierre). Unfortunately for Washington, it was a crushing 4-1 defeat to the Penguins in their chase for a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth. But it was Ovi's 27th goal of the season.
Career Goal Numbers 850, 851
On a disappointing night for the Capitals when things continued to go wrong, Ovechkin started things off right. The Great 8 netted two goals in the first period to give the Caps a 2-0 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes. But the lead didn't hold and Washington allowed a pair of power-play goals en route to a 4-2 loss last Friday night. But Ovechkin's 28th and 29th goals of the season.
Career Goal Number 852
In a game Washington had to win to keep their slim shot at the Stanley Cup Playoffs alive, be was there. After a goalless first period, Dylan Strome opened the scoring in Detroit before Ovechkin picked up the puck from TJ Oshie off the turnover and baring down on goal found the back of the net for his 30th on the season, but more importantly, it helped seal the Caps' 2-1 win over the Red Wings.
Career Goal Number 853
In the final game of the regular season, with the Caps needing to win to secure a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth, Ovechkin was there to be the hero again. With just under two minutes to play in the opening period and the score tied, TJ Oshie gained the zone and passed back to Dylan McIlrath who fired toward the net where Ovechkin lurked to get a deflection and score, setting up the capitals to earn a 2-1 win at the Philadelphia Flyers. The goal helped put the Caps in the playoffs and was Ovi's 31st on the year in the season-finale.
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