When it comes to scoring in the NHL, Alex Ovechkin is among elite company

Washington Capitals forward last week became the fifth player in league history to score at least 30 goals in his first 10 seasons, writes Gregg Patton.

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals last week became the fifth player in league history to score at least 30 goals in his first 10 seasons. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The NHL may be full of surprises, year to year, with mighty teams and talented players stumbling and others rising.

There is one thing you can bet on, however. Alex Ovechkin will rifle shots and score tons of goals.

The Washington Capitals forward last week became the fifth player in league history to score at least 30 goals in his first 10 seasons. It’s most impressive to know he is the first man in the 21st century to do it, having joined four players whose careers all spanned the “generous years” of the 1980s and 1990s – Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mike Gartner and Mike Bossy.

The Russian winger, 29, may not have turned his team, the Washington Capitals, into a post-season titan: they have not survived the second round of the Stanley Cup play-offs during his tenure, gaining a reputation as play-offs underachievers.

He may not skate as fast into the defensive end as he does when he has the puck on his stick, as his ho-hum, career plus-58 rating attests.

But, boy, can Ovy attack. He has led the league in shots on net eight of nine seasons. He is on track to win his fifth Rocket Richard Trophy as the goalscoring champ. With magical feet and gifted hands, he is uniquely wired to accomplish the singular point of the sport – put puck in net.

If his milestone goal (he added No 31, too) came in a 4-3 defeat, well, what else is new?

No one can say he is not consistently the best at the one thing he does.

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