Ovechkin's historic run to 600 goals

Alex Ovechkin became the 20th player in NHL history to reach the 600-goal milestone when he scored two goals in the Washington Capitals' 3-2 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.
Ovechkin, who reached 600 goals in his 990th career game, became the fourth player in NHL history to score 600 goals in under 1,000 games. The other three are Wayne Gretzky (718), Mario Lemieux (719) and Brett Hull (900).

Here is a deeper look at his milestone.
Ovechkin, 32, needed 189 games to get from 500 goals to 600 goals -- tied with Mike Gartner (189) for fifth-fewest among all players to achieve the feat, behind Lemieux (114), Gretzky (143), Marcel Dionne (146) and Bobby Hull (171).
Selected No. 1 by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin became the sixth player to score 600 goals for one franchise. The others: Gordie Howe (786, Detroit Red Wings), Steve Yzerman (692, Red Wings), Mario Lemieux (690, Pittsburgh Penguins), Joe Sakic (625, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche) and Bobby Hull (604, Chicago Blackhawks).
Ovechkin, from Moscow, became the fourth European-born player to reach 600 NHL goals, joining Jaromir Jagr (766; Kladno, Czech Republic), Teemu Selanne (684; Helsinki, Finland) and Jari Kurri (601; Helsinki, Finland).

Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, Ovechkin (600) has 195 more goals than the next-closest player (Sidney Crosby, Penguins: 405). Ovechkin (600 goals, 509 assists, 1,109 points) and Crosby (405 goals, 698 assists, 1,103 points) are the only players with 1,100 or more points in that span.
Less than 1,000 games into his NHL career, Ovechkin is the League's all-time leader in overtime goals (22), ranks ninth in game-winning goals (100), 10th in power-play goals (225) and 10th in shots on goal (4,839).
Ovechkin's average of 0.61 goals per game ranks fifth in NHL history among players with a minimum of 300 games played, behind Mike Bossy (0.76), Lemieux (0.75), Cy Denneny (0.75) and Pavel Bure (0.62). Two of the 19 players ahead of Ovechkin on the all-time goals list averaged at least 0.60 goals per game: Lemieux (0.75) and Gretzky (0.60).
Only one other active NHL player is averaging at least 0.50 goals per game (min. 300 GP): Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos (0.53), who has 348 career goals in 655 games.
Ovechkin has averaged at least 0.60 goals per game in nine of his 13 NHL seasons (including 0.61 in 2017-18: 42 G in 69 GP). At that rate, Ovechkin would need 490 more games -- just under six full seasons -- to equal Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals and approximately 334 more games -- a little more than four seasons -- to join Gretzky and Gordie Howe (801) as the only players in League history to score 800 goals.

Ovechkin has scored against 128 different goaltenders on his way to 600 goals (plus 28 goals into an empty net), including 22 goals against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers (37 GP) -- his highest total against one goalie. Monday was the first time Ovechkin scored against Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets (2 G in 4 GP).
Among goaltenders Ovechkin has faced at least 10 times, his best goals per game has come against Ben Bishop (0.91 G/GP; 10 G in 11 GP). Ovechkin has scored 12 goals -- his eighth-highest total against one goaltender -- in seven contests against Devan Dubnyk (1.71 G/GP).
Ovechkin, who has at least five goals against every team except the first-year Golden Knights (0 G in 2 GP), has scored more goals against the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers than against any other franchise, scoring 47 times in 63 games (vs. ATL: 30 G in 42 GP; vs. WPG: 17 G in 21 GP). His best goals per game against one club is 1.07 G/GP against the Wild.
Nicklas Backstrom has assisted on 228 of Ovechkin's 600 career goals (38%) -- by far the highest total among the 87 different players (including five goaltenders) to assist on an Ovechkin goal.
The road to 600 goals has seen Ovechkin score in 46.2% (457 of 990) games played. That includes 99 games with two goals, 16 with three goals and four with four goals -- a total of 119 multigoal performances and 20 hat tricks.
Ovechkin's 119 career multigoal games are tied for 16th on the League's all-time list (w/ Luc Robitaille); Kurri and Bobby Hull share 14th place with 121 apiece, while Gretzky holds the record with 189. Since 2005-06, Ovechkin has 39 more multigoal games than the next-closest player (Crosby: 80).

Ovechkin has scored the opening goal of a game 109 times, tied a game 112 times and put his team ahead 208 times (including 22 overtime goals). Additionally, Ovechkin has pulled his team within one goal 53 times and given the Capitals a two-goal lead on 112 occasions.
Ovechkin has scored 44 of his goals in the opening five minutes of a game -- including 10 in the first 60 seconds -- and 76 in the last five minutes of regulation -- with 35 of those coming in the final minute.