[sc:NHL250 ]Alex Ovechkin has been playing in the NHL since 2005, but has yet to win the Stanley Cup. We don’t know if he’s ever going to take the Washington Capitals to the top of the mountain, but there’s one thing we’re sure about Ovechkin: he knows how to score goals.
Ovi has scored over 500 goals in his career and you bet a number of them were doozies. Let’s count down 10 of the Russian’s 10 best goals so far in the NHL.
[sc:NHL240 ]It’s safe to say that Duncan Keith is a Hall-of-Fame worthy defenseman, but don’t tell that to Alex Ovechkin, who once reduced the Blackhawks’ blue liner into a mere prop to his on-ice theatrics.
9. The 500th Goal (January 9, 2016)
Ovechkin has 182 career power play goals as of this writing. That’s a lot! So it’s only fitting for him to score his 500th on the man advantage against the Sens, who foolishly left Ovechkin alone at the top of the circle.
8. The Hot Shtick
It’s not just the goals that make Ovechkin such an exciting player to watch. Sometimes it’s his on-ice panache. In this one, Ovechkin scored a rather ordinary goal by his standards, but you knew this was going to be a memorable one right after he busted that sticks-on-fire celebration. Don Cherry didn’t like it though.
7. Hell of a Toe Drag (December 20, 2014)
Some nights, Ovechkin is just plain unstoppable. Take for example this 2014 game against the Devils, in which Ovechkin shows us how to break the defense with a vicious toe drag before putting one in the net.
6. On His Knees (May 2, 2015)
Ovechkin will score anyway he wants. It doesn’t matter whether he’s falling down on his knees while being hounded by two defensemen, and facing a Vezina Trophy-winning goalie.
5. Ovi vs. the Powerless Rangers (April 24, 2009)
Say what you want about the Capitals’ postseason failures, but at least it’s not because of Ovechkin’s lack of trying. You can see it in this amazing sequence from Ovechkin, who made the Rangers look helpless in Game 5 of their 2009 first round matchup with sick stick-work topped with an even sicker backhand goal…while falling down.
4. Making Dallas See Stars (March 8, 2010)
You shouldn’t have bitten on that fake, you silly Dallas defender. But then again, there’s no way any one could’ve stopped this nasty wrister from Ovechkin.
3. Welcome to the Playoffs, Ovechkin (April 11, 2008)
It took Ovechkin four years to get to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And once he got there, he made sure that his first postseason goal was going to be a thing of beauty.
2. Board Game (February 18, 2009)
The 2008-2009 season was one of Ovechkin’s best in his career, as he scored 56 goals that season. That includes this shot he manufactured right after making the puck bounce off the boards and getting it again following a 360 spin. To cap it all off, he scores while sliding towards the net. Classic Ovi.
1. The Goal (January 15, 2006)
Is there ever any question what Ovechkin’s best goal is? It’s a no contest. There’s no debate needed. If you haven’t seen this one yet, then stop whatever you’re doing and watch this insane goal by the Great Eight.
