I score empty net best)))))))))))))))) (Caps Outsider)
Oftentimes, empty-netters are great way to pad stats, especially now that teams are pulling their netminders with multiple goal deficits, and earlier in the period. This is in contrast to the pull the goalie with a minute left to play in a one-goal game strategy that lasted for decades.
Ovechkin’s empty net goal total, however, is only about 5 percent of his goals, so he’d still be the best goal scorer in the last 20 years if he didn’t get those pot-shots at the net.
Here’s a question – what’s Ovechkin doing out there in defensive situations? He doesn’t penalty kill or take face-offs, so Ovi on the ice while the other team is desperate for a goal isn’t something he normally does – except when the net is empty. I suppose that’s fine, so long as the other team isn’t consistently scoring during those same scenarios.
Anyway, here’s the all-time empty net goal leaderboard.
UPDATED: 2/10/2024
- Alex Ovechkin – 57
- Wayne Gretzky – 56
