Ovechkin Milestone Thread - Countdown to 894

[RedRocking]

All time classic

I was at this game. Totally baked out of my mind. My buddy and I literally couldn’t believe what was happening. Wait, now Ovi is levitating backwards and flying into the net?! What even is reality?

Good times, lol. The young Ovi, that could really skate, is still unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

 

[Nsjohnson]

I was at this game. Totally baked out of my mind. My buddy and I literally couldn’t believe what was happening. Wait, now Ovi is levitating backwards and flying into the net?! What even is reality?

Good times, lol. The young Ovi, that could really skate, is still unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

Not only could he skate, but he really was fast and he was an absolute freight train and hit everything in sight just because it was fun.

This guy was out of his mind and I know why so many people hated him (and used the convenient excuse that he was lazy) ...it was because he was usually destroying their favorite team or player by goals and hits.

 

[895]

on pace for 45 goals which if maintained over 82 games means he would have it this year.

 

[Random schmoe]

I don't really expect Ovie, at 39, to maintain the pace necessary to break the record this year. But, frankly, he has made a career of breaking expectations.

The Caps final 2 games this year are in Pittsburgh and NY (Islanders). If I were fans of those teams and lived there, I'd be considering getting tickets for those games, just in case.

Wouldn't it be "something" if he hit or broke the record against the Pens, in Pittsburgh? Would be interesting to see whether he was applauded or booed.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

GO OVI GO WHAT A BEAST

 

[PM88RU]

I don't really expect Ovie, at 39, to maintain the pace necessary to break the record this year. But, frankly, he has made a career of breaking expectations.

The Caps final 2 games this year are in Pittsburgh and NY (Islanders). If I were fans of those teams and lived there, I'd be considering getting tickets for those games, just in case.

Wouldn't it be "something" if he hit or broke the record against the Pens, in Pittsburgh? Would be interesting to see whether he was applauded or booed.

To witness breaking the major record is once in a life improbable thing for the most of the true hockey fans = fans of the game (not just player fans). These kind of memories never fade.

Sincerely believe that majority of PIT fans will have enough class to appreciate the moment if it happens to be at PIT-WSH game.

 

[BallardEra]

The Caps PP has been pretty brutal for them this season.

No power play goals or patented one timers yet for him. He only has two PP assists.

 

[BallardEra]

 

[dgibb10]

Ovi has been so good this year

 

[Acallabeth]

Wouldn't it be "something" if he hit or broke the record against the Pens, in Pittsburgh? Would be interesting to see whether he was applauded or booed.

I've read that Lemieux got a huge ovation in Philadelphia when he returned after his lymphoma treatment. There are things that transcend rivalries.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Ovi has been so good this yearView attachment 925162

That entire line with Strome and Protas has really tilted the ice when they get out there.

They create time and space for Ovi and he does the rest.

 

[Nsjohnson]

I have only been able to watch one Caps game this season but I follow each game to see what Ovechkin did.

Firstly, I see the Caps are playing pretty well. 7-2 and have beat some good opponents.

What is clicking with the team and how is it helping Ovechkin? Lot's of players whose names I recognize but couldn't tell you anything about.

 

[AD1066]

Ovi has been so good this yearView attachment 925162

He's never been a defensive stalwart but the "one-dimensional" thing always struck me as salty.

While not an elite playmaker, he sees the ice well enough and has averaged about 40 assists per 82 games in his career. That's better than most middle-sixers, on top of being the greatest goal scorer of all time. At 39 he still moves the puck well around the offensive zone and makes some crafty passes.

Reading some of the offseason pearl-clutching posts, you'd think he has no business being in the league any longer and that the Caps are trotting him out to their own detriment.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I have only been able to watch one Caps game this season but I follow each game to see what Ovechkin did.

Firstly, I see the Caps are playing pretty well. 7-2 and have beat some good opponents.

What is clicking with the team and how is it helping Ovechkin? Lot's of players whose names I recognize but couldn't tell you anything about.

I'd say depth and speed on the blue line is the #1 factor. Chychrun was the Caps' best offseason acquisition, he's really helping Carlson shoulder the load back there.

Other acquisitions up front are much younger than the players they were replacing. Add that to McMichael and Protas having breakout seasons and you get a good mix.

 

[zappa4ever]

I have only been able to watch one Caps game this season but I follow each game to see what Ovechkin did.

Firstly, I see the Caps are playing pretty well. 7-2 and have beat some good opponents.

What is clicking with the team and how is it helping Ovechkin? Lot's of players whose names I recognize but couldn't tell you anything about.

the short: last year's old, injured, anemic offense, cap-strapped team did an overhaul

Caps got younger and healthier and brought in several players at every position, plus it seems OV took the offseason seriously and got healthier and learned how to handle the puck again

Chychrun at 1LD
Matt Roy at 2RD
PLD at 2C
Logan Thompson in net
Mangiapane, Duhaime, Raddysh to round out Fwds

Connor McMichael and 6'6" A. Protas have turned the corner from fledglings to adults

last year they were handcuffed with the contracts of aging/ailing Backstrom and Oshie, while Kuznetsov showed why he would eventually go back to Russia

Carbury has them playing together and currently everything's gelling nicely

 

[Nsjohnson]

I'd say depth and speed on the blue line is the #1 factor. Chychrun was the Caps' best offseason acquisition, he's really helping Carlson shoulder the load back there.

Other acquisitions up front are much younger than the players they were replacing. Add that to McMichael and Protas having breakout seasons and you get a good mix.

I am happy to hear that.

I also noticed...the Caps must be one of the biggest teams in the NHL. There have at least like 5 guys that are 6'3'' and bigger.

As long as some of them are not too slow, the mix of grind, hit, and pass definitely can help Ovechkin.

 

[Gnome17]

I'd say depth and speed on the blue line is the #1 factor. Chychrun was the Caps' best offseason acquisition, he's really helping Carlson shoulder the load back there.

Other acquisitions up front are much younger than the players they were replacing. Add that to McMichael and Protas having breakout seasons and you get a good mix.

Very impressed by McMichael, when drafted he was said to be pretty NHL ready and very responsible both ways, took him a couple years but hes turned into such a 2-way beast this year.

 

[Lou Sassole]

Not only could he skate, but he really was fast and he was an absolute freight train and hit everything in sight just because it was fun.

This guy was out of his mind and I know why so many people hated him (and used the convenient excuse that he was lazy) ...it was because he was usually destroying their favorite team or player by goals and hits.

I remember he broke the stanchion plastering a Columbus D-man on his first shift.

 

[Beukeboom]

I remember he broke the stanchion plastering a Columbus D-man on his first shift.

This makes me feel old. I watched a lot of international games with him before the NHL because at the time he reminded me of Bure ( a personal favourite). A mean Bure. So I also watched his first NHL game, and I remember that hit. Can't believe it's been 20 years...

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Gnome17]

What is this game lol.

Ovechkin is so good. 40-40 season incoming, minimum.

 

[Nsjohnson]

Two points (1g 1a) so far in the first period here today.

His aggression including even just his posture in the offensive zone looks...late 20's Ovechkin.

 

[TJHKY]

 

[hockeykicker]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1852826475101344211

 

[895]

Is this his first goal against this Tarasov guy?