WASHINGTON (AP) — The NHL has a new milestone: the 900-goal club, and Alex Ovechkin is its first member.
Ovechkin hit this remarkable milestone on Wednesday, scoring against Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues early in the second period of a 6-1 victory. “It’s a huge number, and to be the first, it’s a special moment,” Ovechkin shared. He was thrilled to celebrate with fans and family at home.
He earned his 900th goal by backhanding a rebound from Jakob Chychrun past Binnington. The celebration was electric; teammates rushed the ice to congratulate him. Meanwhile, Binnington humorously tucked the puck away, acknowledging its significance.
After previously breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record with his 895th goal in April, Ovechkin needed just three more to hit 900. He ended a brief scoring drought in mid-October and added goal Nos. 898 and 899 shortly after.
John Carlson, Ovechkin’s teammate, noted, “None of us can relate to a ‘slump’ for him. He’ll grab a lot of momentum from this.” Ovechkin is in the final season of his contract, making this milestone particularly noteworthy in his extraordinary career.
Longtime teammate T.J. Oshie has no doubts about Ovechkin’s ability to score 30 goals this season. “He proves people wrong every time,” Oshie said, highlighting Ovechkin’s consistent performance over the years.
Throughout his career, Ovechkin has faced little injury time, leading to several key milestones spaced evenly. His journey to 900 took a bit longer than previous milestones, but his focus remains unwavering. “I try to play the game and do my best. There are plenty of games left,” he remarked after scoring.
Looking at his goal milestones:
- Goal No. 100: Oct. 12, 2007
- Goal No. 200: Feb. 5, 2009
- Goal No. 300: April 5, 2011
- Goal No. 400: Dec. 20, 2013
- Goal No. 500: Jan. 10, 2016
- Goal No. 600: March 12, 2018
- Goal No. 700: Feb. 22, 2020
- Goal No. 800: Dec. 13, 2022
- Goal No. 900: Nov. 5, 2025
This latest achievement puts Ovechkin closer to joining the exclusive 1,000-goal club, a feat that only a handful of players have reached. As the game evolves, Ovechkin continues to remain a significant figure in the NHL, inspiring younger players while thrilling fans. For more on Ovechkin and his journey, check out the latest updates from AP NHL.
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Alexander Ovechkin, Jordan Binnington, Jakob Chychrun, Logan Thompson, Wayne Gretzky, John Carlson, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, MD State Wire, Missouri, Maryland, Virginia, DC Wire, NHL, MO State Wire, District of Columbia, Sports, NHL hockey, T.J. Oshie
