Ovechkin Reaches 700 Assists in Capitals’ Victory Over Golden Knights

In a significant achievement for his illustrious career, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals notched his 700th career assist during a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night.

Ovechkin becomes the 60th player in NHL history to reach this milestone and is notably only the sixth player to have both 700 goals and 700 assists. He now joins an elite group that includes hockey legends Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Phil Esposito, and Marcel Dionne. This remarkable feat underscores Ovechkin’s status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

After the game, the 39-year-old seemed unfazed by the milestone. “When you play 20 years in hockey, I’m pretty sure you’ll get the same number,” he remarked, according to NHL.com. He acknowledged the significance of joining such esteemed company but was quick to shift focus, stating, “Yeah, it’s a pretty big number. Nice to be in that company. So, yeah, move forward.”

As Ovechkin continues to build on his career achievements, he remains determined to chase Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894. Currently, Ovechkin is just 41 goals shy of that historic mark. If he maintains his scoring pace, he could surpass Gretzky by the end of the 2024-25 season, adding another chapter to his storied legacy.

The game itself saw a strong performance from the Capitals, beginning with Jakub Vrana scoring the opening goal. This marked a significant moment for Vrana, as it was his first shot since rejoining the franchise that he helped lead to a Stanley Cup victory in 2018. The Capitals took an early 1-0 lead, but Victor Olofsson tied the game for the Golden Knights just before the first period ended, making it 1-1.

In the second period, Ovechkin contributed to his milestone with a secondary assist on Tom Wilson’s goal, which restored Washington’s lead at 2-1. This was Wilson’s second goal in as many games, showcasing his strong start to the season. Shortly after, Ovechkin recorded his 700th assist, feeding Aliaksei Protas for a goal from the slot at 5:16. Jakob Chychrun later extended the Capitals’ lead to 4-1, further solidifying their dominance in the game.

Although Jack Eichel scored for the Golden Knights at 7:17 of the second period, the Capitals’ defense held strong, aided by the impressive performance of Logan Thompson, who made his debut for the Capitals after being acquired from the Golden Knights in June. Thompson turned aside 24 shots, helping to secure the victory for his new team.

This win was particularly important for the Capitals, as it marked their first victory of the season following a loss to the New Jersey Devils in their opening game. The Capitals will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face the Dallas Stars in Washington on Friday night.

In summary, Alex Ovechkin’s milestone of 700 assists adds another accolade to his storied career and solidifies his place among the greatest in hockey history. As the Capitals move forward, fans will be eager to see how Ovechkin continues to perform in pursuit of both individual and team success.