"Everything on the line" for Alex Ovechkin in hunt for ultimate cherry on top after becoming NHL's leading scorer

Modified Apr 22, 2025 05:43 GMT

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals - Source: Imagn — "Everything on the line" for Alex Ovechkin in playoffs- Source: Imagn

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had a historic regular season, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 goals to become the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.

With 42 goals, the 39-year-old Ovechkin tied for third in goals for the 2024-25 season. Meanwhile, the Capitals finished atop the Eastern Conference with 111 points, making them one of the heavy favorites for the Stanley Cup.

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Alex Ovechkin previously led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018. Following his historic milestone and a strong start to the 2025 playoffs, including his first playoff overtime goal in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, Ovi is determined to win a second championship.

"Feel the same. Big one, important game, mentally. Move on. Every game right now is very important. Even if you play not — doesn't feel good — you just have to find a way to feel better," Ovi said post-game. "It's a blast. It's everything on the line. Every different situation, little moment, can change the game."

When questioned about whether external criticism of the Capitals' late performance motivated the team, Ovechkin explained:

"We try don't listen to what people say around the team. So yeah."

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Ovechkin notched three points and two goals in the Capitals' 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens in Game 1 on Monday. Both teams return to Capital One Arena for Game 2 on Wednesday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.

How many goals has Alex Ovechkin scored in the playoffs?

With a pair of goals in Game 1, Alex Ovechkin moved to 13th all-time in playoff goal scoring, only three goals shy of NHL icon Mario Lemieux, who has 76 playoff goals.

Ovechkin has notched 74 goals in 152 postseason games. Meanwhile, the record for most playoff goals belongs to Wayne Gretzky, who scored 122 goals in 208 games.

Also Read: Brendan Gallagher makes feelings known about Alex Alexeyev's cross check in game vs. Capitals

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta