Alex Ovechkin became the second player in NHL history to score at least 20 goals in 20 consecutive seasons when he scored against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.
Gordie Howe is the only player with more consecutive 20-goal seasons, having done so 22 times between 1949-50 and 1970-71.
Ovechkin’s 20th goal of the season was also the 873rd of his career, which now puts him 22 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record (894).
The 39-year-old forward found the empty back of the net at 19:02 of the third period to confirm the Capitals’ 4-1 victory.
Ovechkin has scored 20 goals in 27 games this season, even though he missed 16 games between November 21 and December 23 due to a fractured left fibula.
Ovechkin, drafted first overall by Washington in 2004, has never scored fewer than 24 goals in a season in his 20 NHL campaigns. He reached this total during the 2020-21 season, shortened to 56 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the only season of his career in which he did not reach the 30-goal mark.
Howe (22), Ovechkin and Ron Francis (20) are the only players in NHL history to have scored at least 20 goals in 20 seasons of their career (consecutive or not).
Ovechkin holds the NHL records for seasons of 30 goals (18) and 40 goals (13). He is tied with Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the most 50-goal campaigns (9).
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