Alexander Ovechkin : Empty net goals | 800th goal

Alex Ovechkin notched his 800th career goal against Chicago, becoming just the third player in NHL history to accomplish that feat.

Alexander Ovechkin : Empty net goals | 800th goal

Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Born	17 September 1985 (age 37) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Washington Capitals Dynamo Moscow
National team	Russia

Nicknamed “Ovi” (alternatively spelled “Ovie”) and “the Great Eight” in reference to his jersey number, Ovechkin is widely regarded as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time.

Ovechkin holds the records for the most power play goals, most goals scored in away games, and most goals with the same team in NHL history.

He is the third NHL player, behind Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky, to score 800 goals in the regular season.

Empty net goals

He has 53 empty-net goals in his career, putting him three back of matching Wayne Gretzky in that category — just one of many Gretzky milestones Ovechkin aims to surpass on his quest to be the all-time goal-scoring leader.

Ovechkin’s scored four empty-netters and added a power-play assist over the last three games. The 37-year-old winger sits three goals shy of 800 in his career as he continues his march up the ranks. 

For the season, Ovechkin has 17 tallies, 30 points, 129 shots on net, 84 hits and a minus-11 rating through 30 contests.

It’s worth noting that all four players hit the record during the last four seasons as head coaches have used more aggressive tactics when calling goaltenders to the bench for an extra man. That means this may be the most tenuous Ovechkin record of all heading into the future.

This season, Alex Ovechkin already broke Wayne Gretzky’s road goals record. Next to fall will be The Great One’s empty-netter record. Ovechkin has scored 53 career times on an empty net. Gretzky did so 56 times.

Alex Ovechkin 800th goal 

Alex Ovechkin recorded a hat trick in the Washington Capitals’ 7-3 win over the Blackhawks on Tuesday, giving him 800 goals for his illustrious career.

The Caps took Ovechkin first overall in the 2004 draft and ever since his very first game in the league nearly two decades ago, he’s been a scoring machine, the likes of which we’ve (almost) never seen.

• Goal No. 1: Oct. 5, 2005; his NHL debut (age 20)
• No. 100: Oct. 12, 2007; fourth game of his third season (age 22)
• No. 200: Feb. 5, 2009; 51st game of his fourth season (age 23)
• No. 300: Apr. 5, 2011; 77th game of his sixth season (age 25)
• No. 400: Dec. 20, 2013; 33rd game of his ninth season (age 28)
• No. 500: Jan. 10, 2016; 41st game of his 11th season (age 30)
• No. 600: Mar. 12, 2018; 69th game of his 13th season (age 32)
• No. 700: Feb. 22, 2020; 60th game of his 15th season (age 34)
• No. 800: Dec. 13, 2022; 31st game of his 18th season (age 37)

Ovechkin could pass Howe as soon as Thursday night’s home game against the Stars and could realistically pass Gretzky during the 2024-25 season, assuming he stays healthy.

The 37-year-old Ovechkin leads the Capitals with 20 goals on the season, with seven coming in his last four games. Washington has now won its last five games to improve to 15-12-4 on the year.

“A shot, they score!” Walton screamed. “And it’s Alex Ovechkin! And it’s 800 goals in the National Hockey League! The bench empties! Alex Ovechkin is the third player in National Hockey League history to score 800 goals! He does it here in Chicago, Illinois on the 13th of December, 2022! History here at the Madhouse on Madison! Alex Ovechkin, Gordie Howe, and Wayne Gretzky are now the only three skaters ever in National Hockey League history to score 800 goals!”