Alex Ovechkin now Capitals all-time goals leader, schools Canadiens (Video)

Peter Bondra established the Washington Capitals’ franchise goals record with 472 in 961 games from 1990 to 2004.

It took Alex Ovechkin just 756 games to shatter it.

Ovechkin scored his 51st goal of the season, and the 473rd of this career, against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, becoming the Capitals’ franchise leader in goals scored.

If there was a way to characterize a vintage Ovechkin goal, this was it.

John Carlson fed him down the left wing, and he entered the Canadiens’ zone with a head of steam. He blew past Brandon Prust at the blue line, moved around a spinning Andrei Markov in the left circle, and snapped a shot past Carey Price, who is currently the best goaltender on the planet.

A brilliant goal and, more appropriately, a power-play goal for Ovechkin, who is currently third among active players in power-play tallies (174), now one behind Jarome Iginla’s career total of 175.

Former Capital Jeff Halpern, who played with both of them, said it best to the Washington Post this week: 

“Bondra was a star, but Ovi is a superstar. Ovi has the capabilities where if he’s not scoring, he can run somebody over; he can dominate the game physically. … Nothing against Peter, but it’s an element that makes Ovi a true superstar.”

Ovechkin is also the Capitals franchise leader in points and power-play goals; next up, catching up to Bondra (303) in even strength goals (295).

Oh, and maybe becoming the first Capital to ever hoist the Stanley Cup. That’s on the wish list, too.

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