Ovechkin the Third Player in NHL History to Record Eight 50-Goal Seasons

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 50th and 51st goal of the season on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena to become the third player in NHL history to record eight 50-goal seasons, trailing only Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy (9). In addition, Ovechkin's second goal of the game was his 658th goal of his career to move him passed Brendan Shanahan for 13th place on the NHL all-time goals list. Ovechkin's second goal came on the power play, marking his 247th career power play goal, passing Phil Esposito for fifth on the NHL's all-time list and tied with Luc Robitaille for fourth all-time.

This season, Ovechkin ranks first in the NHL with 51goals and leads the Capitals in even strength goals (33) and points (88), marking the sixth time he has recorded at least 30 even strength goals in his career. Ovechkin has scored 19 percent of the Capitals' total goals this season, the second-highest percentage in the NHL and has 27 goals against current playoff-bound teams. The Capitals are 26-8-2 this season when Ovechkin scores a goal. At 33 years and 194 days old, Ovechkin became the third-oldest player in NHL history to record a 50 goal season (Johnny Bucyk: 35 years, 308 days; Jaromir Jagr: 34 years, 37 days). Ovechkin, who will be 33 years, 201 days old on April 6, the last day of the regular season, is on pace to become the last player since Phil Esposito (1974-75) to lead the NHL in goals at the age of 33 or older. Ovechkin is aiming to set an NHL record for most goals in a season for the eighth time in his career. If he accomplishes the feat, he will also be awarded with his eighth Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. No other player has won the trophy more than twice since its creation during the 1998-99 season.
Ovechkin was selected by the Capitals in the first round, first overall, in the 2004 NHL Draft. The Moscow native has registered 1,210 points (658g, 552a) in 1,081 career games with Washington. Ovechkin ranks first in franchise history in goals (658), points (1,210), power-play goals (247), game-winning goals (107), overtime goals (22), shots (5,221) and multi-goal games (132).

Since entering the NHL at the beginning of the 2005-06 season, Ovechkin leads the NHL in goals (658), power-play goals (247), power-play points (464), game-winning goals (107) and tied for first in points (1,210). In addition, Ovechkin leads the NHL in goals since 1994-95 despite beginning his NHL career in 2005. He is the only player in the NHL to score 30 or more goals in each season since 2005-06 and his average of 0.61 goals per game is fifth in NHL history (minimum: 300 games played), trailing only Bossy (0.76), Cy Denneny (0.75), Mario Lemieux (0.75) and Pavel Bure (0.62).
In his career, Ovechkin has won a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Calder Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, three Hart Memorial Trophies, three Ted Lindsay Awards and seven Maurice Richard Trophies. He is the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe, a Calder, a Art Ross, a Hart, a Ted Lindsay and a Maurice Richard Trophy.