(Caps Outsider)
With his 51st goal of the season against Montreal on Thursday, Alex Ovechkin became the all-time leading goal scorer for the Washington Capitals, passing Peter Bondra with 473 (474 later in the game!). Ovechkin did it in 206 fewer games, however, which comes out to nearly two and a half seasons fewer than Bondra needed to set his mark.
Ovechkin, who already passed Bondra in all-time Caps power play goals, game-winners, total points, and shots, still trails Bondra in even strength goals by 8 (303 to 295). Other than that, there aren’t any major Caps records that Ovi will likely own, though good health will make him the Caps’ all-time games played leader in a few seasons. He’s also got shots at the game-winners in a season record (he’ll need three more to pass Bondra’s 13), and Bondra’s hat-trick record of 19 (Ovi has 13). There are a handful of records Ovechkin won’t get as Dennis Maruk had a monster season in 1981-82.
After that? Ovi’s personal stats can surpass league records, but even at his 50-goals-a-season pace, those records are several seasons away. We’ll bet he’ll get there.
