With a goal that not everyone was certain he scored in Monday’s 5-3 victory against the Sabres, Alex Ovechkin tied Brett Hull with 741 career goals for fourth all-time. The tally came on a deflection from a Dmitry Orlov shot from the point, putting the Caps ahead 3-1 at the time. Oddly enough, Ovi also had an assist earlier in the game, also on a deflection when Tom Wilson scored.
Ovechkin also tied Hull in total goals in only 1,209 games, 60 fewer than Hull played in his career. Hull, by the way, played until he was 41, but didn’t play a full NHL season until he was 25.
Let’s still give a nod to Hull, who three times had 70 or more goals, including one season with 86 (Mario Lemieux once had 85 and Wayne Gretzky had both 92 and 87). While folks always point to the ‘era’ being easier to score, only Gretzky scored 70-plus goals more than Hull did. The closest comparison in the Ovi era is the 60-goal mark, a relatively modern club of only Ovi, with 65, and Steven Stamkos with 60. So, regardless of the era being ‘easier,’ Hull did things that few players did.
Ovi just needs one to pass Hull, then 26 goals to pass Jaromir Jagr, 61 goals to pass Gordie Howe, and 154 goals to pass Gretzky. He can do this.
