By breaking one NHL record, Alex Ovechkin took a step toward another Thursday night.
In overtime, the Washington Capitals star defeated Leevi Merilainen to deliver the team a 1-0 victory over the Senators in Ottawa, Ontario, shattering the record for the most goals scored by goalies.
Merilainen broke a tie with Jaromir Jagr at the top of the lifetime leaderboard, becoming the 179th goalkeeper Ovechkin has scored against.
Ovechkin scored on his third attempt and third shot on goal. He shot a pass past Merilainen on a 2-on-1 breakaway after receiving it from Rasmus Sandin.
Prior to being surrounded by teammates, Ovechkin lifted his arms and pumped his fist. He extended his record with his 27th overtime goal. Second with 22 is Sidney Crosby.
“I knew I should take a shot as soon as I can because I thought he may be thinking maybe I will pass it back to Sandy,” Ovechkin explained.
“It was a good one, and it went in, so I’ll take it.”
Finland’s 22-year-old rookie Merilainen was playing in his ninth league match.
“You have to know when he’s on the ice he’s going to shoot everything like he did today,” said Merilainen.
Naturally, Ovechkin is aiming for an even greater record: the career goals mark set by Wayne Gretzky. He was 21 points away from surpassing Gretzky’s record of 894, which for so long appeared insurmountable, with No. 874.
This spring, the 39-year-old winger is expected to reach 895 and higher.
Ovechkin scored his 28th goal against Marc-Andre Fleury earlier in January, more than any other goalie he has faced since coming to North America in 2005.
Ovechkin scored his first goal in overtime during a 1-0 game in his career on Thursday. He surpassed Jagr and John Tavares for the most overtime goals in NHL history with his 13th goal on the road.
Ovechkin, who missed 16 games due to a broken left leg, scored his 21st goal of the season in just his 29th game. In all 20 of his league seasons, including 2013 when a lockout reduced the season to 48 games and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the calendar to 56 games, he has reached 20.
