Alex Ovechkin celebrates. (Getty)
Washington Capitals superstar left wing Alex Ovechkin has become the first player in franchise history, and the 84th in league history, to collect 1,000 career points. He got the 1,000th point in Wednesday’s home game against the Pittsbugh Penguins when he found the back of the net just 35 seconds into the first period.
The goal put Ovechkin at 20 on the season, and brought his point total up to 35 through 41 games that he has been on the ice for. Ovechkin now has a two-game point and goal streak. The 31-year-old Russian native now has amassed 545 goals to go with 455 assists over his 880 career games spread over 11 seasons.
Ovechkin’s career goal and point totals were already franchise records coming into tonight’s game, and Ovechkin is now approaching the franchise record for games played. Calle Johansson currently owsn that mark at 983, which means Ovechkin could break that franchise record in the 2018-19 season if he stays healthy.
The Capitals will need Ovechkin to continue to produce in order to stay in playoff position. At 57 points heading into tonight’s game, Washington is tied for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Regardless of how the Capitals fare this season, Ovechkin has taken another step toward making his argument for the greatest player in Washington history, and arguably put himself into the conversation of the top 100 NHL players ever.
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WATCH: Alex Ovechkin Reaches 1,000 Career Points