Alex Ovechkin breaks NHL record for most career goals by a Russian (Video)
Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin has scored more goals at the NHL level than any Russian in the game’s history.
Ovechkin took a feed in front of the Dallas Stars net in the third period of a Thursday game at Verizon Center and buried the shot past Kari Lehtonen. Ovechkin’s 484th goal came in his 777th NHL game. It took former record holder Sergei Fedorov 1,248 games to hit 483 goals. The video of the score is above. The Capitals lost 3-2.
“Sooner or later I knew it was going to go. Of course you get a little frustrated when you have good chances go, especially in the second (period) when I hit the post…I think it was an important goal for us – put us back in the game – but I think we deserved more today, at least a point,” Ovechkin said. “Obviously it was loud. They cheered for me since day one so it was a great moment. [My dad is] always there. My mom (was) there, my brother, my fiancé and her parents, so that was a special moment for me.”
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Said Fedorov in a statement provided by the Capitals: "I would like to congratulate Alex on this achievement. What he has accomplished thus far in his career has been nothing short of remarkable. I had a great opportunity to play with Alex in Washington and have seen first-hand the respect, passion and enthusiasm he has not only for the game of hockey but for his country as well."
Ovechkin had been stuck on 483 goals since Nov. 7. The 30-year-old winger had gone four games without a goal – or a point for that matter.
“Alex has meant a great deal to our organization and our community and it has been a pleasure to watch as he continues to rewrite the record books," Capitals president Dick Patrick also said in a statement provided by the team. "Alex is a proud Russian and this record means a great deal to him, especially knowing the respect and admiration he has for Sergei."
Ovechkin still has a ways to go to beat Fedorov, who was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame over a week ago, as far as career NHL points for a Russian. Fedorov has 1,179 to Ovechkin’s 912.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
