Photo Credit: Alex Brandon/Associated Press
The Washington Capitals’ top goal scorer, and last season’s NHL lead goal scorer, Alexander Ovechkin, is chasing the record for most NHL goals scored by a Russian-born player.
Ovi shot his 483rd career goal, and tied with current record holder Sergei Federov, during Nov 7th’s Capitals v. Toronto Maple Leafs game. In the third period of that same game,Ovi scored his second goal of the game, a goal that would have won him the record, if it ended up counting.
Maple Leafs’ coach Mike Babcock challenged Ovi’s second goal of the night, the would-be-history goal, by claiming that Leafs’ goalie James Reimer was interfered with from Capitals’ forward Justin Williams. After much review, the goal was dismissed.
Ovi went for the record again during the Capitals v. Philadelphia Flyers on Nov 12 where he scored a goal in the second period that, again, would have been his record-breaking goal if it was not challenged and dismissed.
Flyers’ coach Dave Hakstol challenged Ovi’s second period goal because he believed that there should have been an offsides call as the puck was en route to the Flyers’ net. On video review it was ruled that Capitals’ forward Justin Williams was offside and the goal was dismissed.
Ovechkin joked about the second dismissed goal he’s received since tying for the record but remain-s optimistic that he will get the goal soon. “What can you do? It sucks again,” he said to reporters during post-game interviews. “Justin [Williams] owes me dinner.”
Capitals’ coach Barry Trotz is eager for the record-breaking goal and believes it is fitting that Ovi get the goal and break the record on home ice in front of his own fans.
“I was telling Ovi, ‘It’s probably fitting he gets to break the record in front of his own fans,’” Trotz said post-game. “They’ve supported him all along. I think it’ll be a nice thing for him to do it at home.” Ovechkin didn’t get a goal on the scoreboard in Friday’s game against the Calgary Flames when the Capitals fell 3-2 on home ice.
This record-breaking goal is being highly anticipated, and with a goal-scorer as talented as Ovechkin this goal is only a matter of time. His next opportunity to break the record will be this Wednesday night’s game in Detroit against the Red Wings.
