Alex Ovechkin gifted goal No. 498 by Dan Girardi giveaway (Video)
Dan Girardi and Alex Ovechkin have had their battles through the years in the Eastern Conference. And what better way to acknowledge a long-term relationship than with a gift?
In the first period of the Washington Capitals’ game at the New York Rangers on Saturday, Girardi took the puck behind the Rangers’ goal with the Caps forechecking on the power play. He attempted a short pass to Dominic Moore to get out of trouble, as Evgeni Kuznetsov was hanging on him like a Snuggie.
Instead, he hit the stick of Ovechkin, who sent the puck into the gaping maw of the net for goal No. 23 on the season and No. 498 of his career and the 1-0 Washington lead.
Ovechkin now has 25 goals in 42 games against the Rangers in his career.
Ovechkin is seeking to become the 43rd player in NHL history to hit 500 goals. But we imagine that isn’t his last goal-scoring milestone to reach. Especially if defensemen keep being so generous with him.
As for Girardi, this goof will no doubt please all the Rangers fans that want to see him benched, cut, traded and/or shot into the sun. The look on his face said it all:
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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