Alex Ovechkin Scores Twice, Reaches 1,000 Points In Capitals’ 5-2 Win Over Penguins

After securing one major accomplishment on Monday, Alex Ovechkin attained another just two days later.

Alex Ovechkin Scores Twice, Reaches 1,000 Points In Capitals’ 5-2 Win Over Penguins

The Russian-born Washington Capitals left winger scored 35 seconds into his team’s 5-2 home victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday to become the 84th player in NHL history to record 1,000 points.

Racing down the right wing, Ovechkin, 31, fired a shot past goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury to make the Verizon Center crowd go exceptionally wild. The fans who filled the arena for the 338th straight sellout began chanting “Ovi! Ovi!” as the Capitals star waved from the bench.

“I kind of [thought] about it before the game — everybody’s here, and it will be nice to get [my] 1,000th point at home,” said Ovechkin, who had his wife, parents and brother in attendance. “Pretty excited that it happened. It’s a big moment for [the] organization, for myself and the fans.”

Ovechkin became the fourth Russian-born player ever to reach 1,000 and the 37th to do it all with one franchise. The Russian reached the milestone in his 880th game, and is the second-fastest active player to reach 1,000 after Jaromir Jagr, who did it in 763 games. Sidney Crosby, who has 983 points in 741 games, could pass them both soon. The three other Russians to reach the achievement are Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Mogilny and Alexei Kovalev. 

“He should be honored like that if you reach 1,000 in the amount of games he has,” said Nicklas Backstrom, who assisted on Ovechkin’s milestone goal. “It’s pretty impressive. All the credit to him. He’s an unreal player, and he’s been fun to watch.”

On Monday, Ovechkin tied NHL legend Maurice “Rocket” Richard with his 544th career goal against Montreal.

Capitals coach Barry Trotz, who has mentored Ovechkin for parts of three seasons, said the winger is a different player and person now than he was as a 19-year-old. Nevertheless, Trotz doesn’t think Ovechkin is old by any stretch.

“When you’re 19 years old, you’ve got a long career, and when you’re 30 years old, you can sort of see the end — not necessarily in your play, but you know that time is going to catch up,” Trotz said. “He’s enjoying it probably more as he’s getting older in some ways.”

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 10: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals shoots and scores his 500th career NHL goal in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Verizon Center on January 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)