WASHINGTON, April 22. /TASS/. Russian hockey star and Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin has passed compatriot Yevgeny Malkin for most power play goals scored by a Russian in NHL playoff history.
On Monday night, in Game 1 of the Capitals’ opening round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Ovechkin scored on the power play with one minute to go in the first period. The Russian was involved in all three of his team’s goals on the night, assisting on an Anthony Beauvillier goal in the second period, and then scoring the winner in overtime as the Caps held off the Habs 3-2 to protect their home ice advantage.
Ovechkin now has 29 power play goals in his playoff career, breaking a tie with Malkin en route to claiming another goals record, this time among Russians in the playoffs. Overall, he is now tied with Canada’s Mario Lemieux for seventh all-time in playoff power play goals, while American Brett Hull holds the record with 38.
Speaking at a news conference after the game, Ovechkin said: "A goal is a goal. And in the playoffs, especially, it doesn’t matter who scores."
"I think everybody was hitting today," the official NHL website quoted Ovechkin as saying. "<…> All our guys get involved in the physical game."
Capitals’ forward and assistant captain Tom Wilson heaped praise on Ovechkin after his Game 1 heroics: "He's a beast. He's a machine."
"When he's out there creating energy for our team, scoring, he does it all. He does everything. That's what a leader does," Wilson added.
During the 2024/2025 NHL regular season, Ovechkin appeared in 65 games, tallying 44 goals and 29 assists. Despite missing 16 games earlier in the year with a fractured leg, he finished the season tied for third-most goals in the NHL with Buffalo Sabres’ forward Tage Thompson.
On April 6, Ovechkin scored his 895th career regular season goal in a game against the New York Islanders, passing legend Wayne Gretzky for most all-time (894 goals).
Ovechkin has played his entire NHL career with the Washington Capitals, who selected him with the 1st overall pick in the 2004 draft. The Russian superstar led the Caps to a Stanley Cup title in 2018, the only one of his career, and the only one in the club's history.
In 2008, 2012 and 2014, "Ovie," as he is called by his fans, won gold medals at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships to go along with his two silver and four bronze medals at the world championships.
Ovechkin has earned a slew of NHL awards in his career, including the Calder Memorial Trophy (2006), Art Ross Trophy (2008), Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020), Hart Memorial Trophy (2008, 2009, 2013), Lester B. Pearson Award/Ted Lindsay Award (2008, 2009, 2010), Conn Smythe Trophy (2018) and others.