The goal record chase if officially back on for Alex Ovechkin

It finally happened. The Great 8 became The Great Wait as it had been a long time since Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal. He scored in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. 

He is second all-time in goals and only 66 behind Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 894. If he can get 67 more, he will be the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. 

People were starting to worry about that chase during his goal drought but they don’t need to be doing that. The chances were there for him, especially over the last couple of games, and his hunger to score is still very much there. 

The days of him scoring 50 and winning the Rocket Richard might be in the past but he doesn’t need to do that anymore to break the record. At 38 years old, he still has plenty of time (and contract) left to finish the job. 

The Washington Capitals got a win on the back of Alex Ovechkin.

This was Ovechkin’s 6th goal of the season. He is on pace to have his worst goal-scoring season but that might change if he gets going now that the drought is over. Being streaky is part of being a goal scorer. 

Ovechkin scored this overtime winner on the power play from his world-famous “office”. Dylan Strome made a very nice pass to find Ovechkin there and he didn’t miss his shot. 

After the goal was scored and the Capitals poured over the bench, the team chirped Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins as he skated off the ice. He got into it with Capitals forward Tom Wilson which is the reason the Caps were on the power play.

 This Capitals team has been much better than people anticipated. They are now 17-9-4 which is good for 38 standings points. They are right in the mix in a wild Metropolitan Division that is packed in the middle. If Ovechkin starts scoring again, they will be even more dangerous.

Every goal he scores will get him that much closer to the record. Everyone wants to see him do it and this goal was big in that chase. Hopefully, it is a sign of things to come.