Players

Comparing Alex Ovechkin’s Season-Opening Games

Ovi hold the ax of the game (via the Caps)

With two goals and two assists in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory against the New York Rangers, 36-year-old Alex Ovechkin got his highest point total in a season-opening game in his career. It was his 17th straight start in a Caps’ season opener and the first time he had multiple assists.

It was also the fourth time he had a multi-goal game to start the season, including a hat trick in 2017 against Ottawa. Wednesday’s game was the first time he had both a power play goal and a short-handed goal.

Most importantly, the Caps won their fifth consecutive season-opening game. They’re 10-5-2 in the Ovechkin era. Only five times in his 17 seasons has Ovi been shut out from scoring in the opening game, and the Caps lost all of those games. Strangely, he’s only scored one game-winner.

DateOppW/LGAPTS+/-PIMS
2005-10-05CBJW202125
2006-10-05@NYRL000-423
2007-10-05@ATLW011106
2008-10-10@ATLL000046
2009-10-01@BOSW213225
2010-10-08@ATLL011008
2011-10-08CARW011022
2013-01-19@TBLL000024
2013-10-01@CHIL112-229
2014-10-09MTLL-SO000-144
2015-10-10NJDW112104
2016-10-13@PITL-SO000-105
2017-10-05@OTTW303306
2018-10-03BOSW112005
2019-10-02@STLW101005
2021-01-14@BUFW022103
2021-10-13NYRW224103

Ben Sumner

Ben Sumner is the editor of Capitals Outsider. He also works for The Washington Post and contributes there when he gets a scoop.

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