Alex Ovechkin scores 700th career goal with beautiful one-timer vs. Devils

Alex Ovechkin became the 8th player in NHL history to score 700 career goals on Saturday with a quick one-timer (from the opposite side of the net he’s usually on) nearly five minutes into the third period.

The Washington Capitals’ captain has been on fire this season and entered Saturday’s road game against the New Jersey Devils ranked third in the league with 41 goals so far. Well, now 42.

All year, Ovechkin has been climbing up the NHL’s all-time career goals list, and he’s currently eighth, which didn’t change with historic goal No. 700. That one-timer against Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood was his 437th career even-strength goal, which is 11th most in NHL history, according to NBC Sports Washington’s broadcast.

It was a beautiful goal that helped the Capitals tie the game at 2-2, and you can even hear the puck ricochet off the post.

On February 4 in a win over the Los Angeles Kings, Ovechkin scored a hat trick, which brought him to 698 career goals. And at the rate he’s been scoring this season — he netted eight goals in three games ahead of the NHL All-Star Weekend — it was assumed 700 was only a couple days away.

However, he went five games without scoring for his longest drought of the season before getting 699 on Thursday in a loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

The 34-year-old winger remains easily on pace for his second straight season with at least 50 goals and ninth overall. He’s also now just eight goals behind Mike Gartner for No. 7 on the all-time goals list, and even Wayne Gretzky thinks Ovechkin has a “real legitimate chance” to break his record of 894 career goals.