Stats
Alex Ovechkin Ties Alex Semin for Most First Caps Goals of Season
(Caps Outsider)
With the first goal of the season for the Capitals on Wednesday against St. Louis, Alex Ovechkin tied former teammate Alexander Semin with three first goals of the season for Washington. Ovechkin had previously scored the first goal of the season in 2013 and his rookie season, 2005.
Semin, meanwhile, had the Caps’ first goals in season openers in 2006, 2008 and 2011.
Eight other players in Caps history have scored the first goal of the season twice: Andre Burakovsky, Brooks Laich, Bengt Gustafsson, Dmitri Khristich, Jaromir Jagr, Mike Gartner, Richard Zednik and Alan Haworth. Alan May scored the first goal of the season in 1992.
Here is the complete list.
Season | First Caps Goal | Opponent | Score |
2019 | Alex Ovechkin | @ St. Louis | W 3-2 OT |
2018 | T.J. Oshie | Boston Bruins | W 7-0 |
2017 | Brett Connolly | @ Ottawa Senators | W 5-4 SO |
2016 | Andre Burakovsky | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | L 2-3 SO |
2015 | Jason Chimera | New Jersey Devils | W 5-3 |
2014 | Andre Burakovsky | Montreal Canadiens | L 2-1 SO |
2013 | Alex Ovechkin | @ Chicago Blackhawks | L 4-6 |
2012 | Joel Ward | @ Tampa Bay Lightning | L 3-6 |
2011 | Alex Semin | Carolina Hurricanes | W 4-3 OT |
2010 | Brooks Laich | @ Atlanta Thrashers | L 2-4 |
2009 | Brooks Laich | @ Boston Bruins | W 4-1 |
2008 | Alex Semin | @ Atlanta Thrashers | L 4-7 |
2007 | Michael Nylander | @ Atlanta Thrashers | W 3-1 |
2006 | Alex Semin | @ N.Y. Rangers | L 2-5 |
2005 | Alex Ovechkin | Columbus Blue Jackets | W 3-2 |
2003 | Jaromir Jagr | N.Y. Islanders | W 6-1 |
2002 | Jaromir Jagr | Nashville Predators | W 5-4 |
2001 | Jeff Halpern | New Jersey Devils | W 6-1 |
2000 | Calle Johansson | Los Angeles Kings | L 1-4 |
1999 | Jan Bullis | @ Florida Panthers | L 3-4 |
1998 | Richard Zednik | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | W 1-0 |
1997 | Jaroslav Svejkovsky | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | W 4-1 |
1996 | Richard Zednik | Chicago Blackhawks | L 2-5 |
1995 | Sergei Gonchar | St. Louis Blues | W 4-1 |
1994 | Dmitri Khristich | @ Hartford Whalers | T 1-1 |
1993 | Dmitri Khristich | @ Winnipeg Jets | L 4-6 |
1992 | Alan May | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | W 6-5 |
1991 | Sylvain Cote | Philadelphia Flyers | W 5-2 |
1990 | Dale Hunter | Pittsburgh Penguins | L 4-7 |
1989 | Geoff Courtnall | Philadelphia Flyers | W 5-3 |
1988 | Mike Gartner | Pittsburgh Penguins | L 4-6 |
1987 | Mike Gartner | @ Boston Bruins | L 3-4 |
1986 | Gaetan Duchesne | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | L 4-5 |
1985 | Bengt-Ake Gustafsson | @ Philadelphia Flyers | L 2-4 |
1984 | Alan Haworth | @ Philadelphia Flyers | T 2-2 |
1983 | Alan Haworth | @ Philadelphia Flyers | L 1-4 |
1982 | Ted Bulley | @ N.Y. Rangers | W 5-4 |
1981 | Ryan Walter | @ Buffalo Sabres | L 5-3 |
1980 | Bengt-Ake Gustafsson | Winnipeg Jets | W 4-1 |
1979 | Peter Scamurra | @ Buffalo Sabres | L 3-6 |
1978 | Bob Girard | @ L.A. Kings | W 4-2 |
1977 | Bob Sirois | Pittsburgh Penguins | W 2-1 |
1976 | Hartland Monahan | Atlanta Flames | W 6-5 |
1975 | Greg Joly | Pittsburgh Penguins | L 2-4 |
1974 | Jim Hrycuik | @ N.Y. Rangers | L 3-6 |