Alex Ovechkin hits 1,000 career goals in Washington Capitals overtime defeat
Alex Ovechkin scored his 1,000th career National Hockey League goal on Sunday, but the Washington Capitals suffered a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Colorado Avalanche.
The veteran winger fired home his 26th goal of the current campaign from his trademark position on the power play, tying the game with just under six minutes remaining in regulation.
Despite the historic milestone, the league-leading Avalanche ultimately secured victory beyond the 60-minute mark to spoil the celebrations in the US capital.
Joining an elite club
The Russian forward becomes only the second player in the history of the sport to reach a combined 1,000 goals across both regular-season and playoff fixtures.
He joins legendary Canadian Wayne Gretzky, who finished his illustrious career with a staggering combined total of 1,016.
While Gretzky still holds the postseason record with 122 strikes, the Capitals captain continues to extend his own remarkable regular-season tally.
Cementing a historic legacy
It has been nearly a year since the talismanic forward surpassed Gretzky’s previously untouchable regular-season record of 894 goals.
His latest achievement pushes his unprecedented regular-season haul to 923, further establishing him as the most prolific goalscorer the game has ever seen.
