Ranking Alex Ovechkin’s Career Defining Goals

The pursuit of greatness, known as `The Gr8 Chase`, has concluded. Alex Ovechkin has etched his name in hockey history, becoming the NHL`s all-time leading goal scorer, surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky.

Ovechkin`s incredible career goal total is a testament to his versatility and dominance. He has scored over 550 goals at even strength and more than 320 on the power play, many from his iconic `Ovi spot`. He also leads the league in empty-net and overtime goals. Demonstrating his all-around game, five of his goals were shorthanded, despite averaging minimal penalty-killing time throughout his career.

However, not all of Ovechkin`s goals are equal. Some are breathtaking displays of skill, true works of art. Others are pivotal moments, defining his remarkable career.

Here is a countdown of the top 20 goals from Ovechkin`s illustrious career, encompassing both regular season and Stanley Cup playoff highlights.

Many of these goals are already iconic, frequently replayed in highlight reels. Others are included in this ranking because of their significant impact on Ovechkin`s legacy and career narrative. Relive these classic moments from the Washington Capitals superstar`s first 895 goals, with insights from Ovechkin himself, his teammates, coaches, and opponents. Enjoy!

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20. December 18, 2015: Ovechkin Stuns the Lightning

The anticipation was palpable as Jason Chimera delivered a perfect pass from the boards into the Lightning`s zone.

Ovechkin charged to retrieve the puck, then masterfully froze Tampa Bay defenseman Anton Stralman with a signature curl-and-drag move, resulting in a stunning power-play goal against Ben Bishop.

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19. June 7, 2018: Ovechkin`s Stanley Cup Final Goal

Ovechkin has scored countless power-play goals of this kind. But this one, in Game 5 against the Golden Knights, was unique. It was his first Stanley Cup Final goal in a potential championship-clinching game, capping off a postseason performance that earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

`Many things were said last year in the press, on social media, everywhere,` recalled Barry Trotz, the coach of that championship-winning team. `They were hurtful, and I believe he took it personally. He was determined to prove he was still an elite player. And he certainly did.`

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18. March 9, 2011: Ovechkin`s Defensive Play Against the Oilers

Questions about Ovechkin`s defensive capabilities have persisted throughout his career. Former Capitals coach Dale Hunter even briefly experimented with using him as a shot blocker.

However, Ovechkin has demonstrated defensive prowess at times, exemplified by this play. He stole the puck from Oilers defenseman Kurtis Foster on the forecheck, creating a 2-on-0 scoring opportunity which he effortlessly converted.

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17. October 5, 2005: Career Goal No. 1

The beginning of it all. In the Capitals` home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ovechkin scored his first NHL goal just 28 seconds after the Blue Jackets took the lead in the second period. He positioned himself between the circles, stick raised for a one-timer.

Dainius Zubrus delivered the pass, and Ovechkin unleashed a shot past Pascal Leclaire, marking the first of his many goals.

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16. March 19, 2022: Ovechkin Outplays Chicago (and Duncan Keith)

By the time Ovechkin showcased his skill against Duncan Keith on national television, the future Hall of Fame defenseman had already earned a Norris Trophy and a Stanley Cup.

Yet, Keith was unable to stop Ovechkin`s move. Ovechkin skillfully dangled the puck, drawing Keith in before pulling it back through his legs and skating around him for the goal, while three Blackhawks players seemed helpless in their own zone.

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15. March 1, 2011: Overtime Winner Against the Islanders

During the 2011 NHL season, overtimes were played 4-on-4. In this game against the Islanders, Ovechkin effectively played one-on-one against Frans Nielsen.

Ovechkin`s speed and agility allowed him to outmaneuver the New York forward in the neutral zone. He then powered through a check from Nielsen in the offensive zone before scoring with a deceptive backhand shot that caught goalie Nathan Lawson by surprise.

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14. March 19, 2009: The `Hot Stick` Celebration

Ovechkin`s 50th goal of the 2008-09 season triggered one of the most memorable and debated moments of his career: the `hot stick` celebration. Ovechkin placed his stick on the ice and playfully warmed his gloves over its imaginary flames.

This celebration became iconic, inspiring bobbleheads and video game animations. However, it was criticized by `Hockey Night in Canada` analyst Don Cherry, who deemed Ovechkin`s actions disrespectful to the Lightning and rookie goalie Mike McKenna.

Years later, on the `I Was in Net For` podcast, McKenna admitted he might have reacted strongly at the time if he were a veteran player. However, he also revealed that he and Ovechkin discussed the incident a week later.

`I remember him approaching me and saying, “I didn`t intend to embarrass or disrespect you or anyone. I just wanted to have fun.” He apologized, and honestly, I was completely fine with it,` McKenna shared. `For him to take the time to acknowledge it and say, “This is what I felt in the moment,” it`s hard to hold that against anyone, especially when they show humility.`

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13. November 20, 2014: The End Boards Goal Against the Avalanche

This goal encapsulates many of Ovechkin`s strengths. His speed through the neutral zone, his skillful move around defenseman Jan Hejda, followed by his sheer power that left Hejda unable to stop him. Finally, his patience to stay with the play, collect the rebound, and tuck it past goalie Reto Berra.

The only element missing was Ovechkin`s signature slap shot, as he used a backhand to initiate this sequence.

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12. October 10, 2015: Ovechkin Schools Moore and the Devils

Ovechkin`s first goal of the 2015-16 season was a highlight-reel play that taught New Jersey Devils defenseman John Moore a tough lesson. Ovechkin accelerated into the zone, faked a move to his right, then dangled to his left, leaving Moore with only a futile wave of his stick. Ovechkin then approached goalie Keith Kinkaid and fired a shot over his glove into the top corner of the net.

`I anticipated he would cut to the middle,` Moore told The Star-Ledger at the time. `To his credit, he sold that move well. I could have had better stick positioning and a tighter gap. You give him an inch, and he`ll capitalize. I`ll learn from this.`

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11. May 1, 2018: The Double-Tap Goal

The Capitals` journey to their first Stanley Cup championship included overcoming their long-time rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the semifinals. Ovechkin scored a remarkable goal in Game 3 of that series. Nicklas Backstrom initiated the play with a turnover in the defensive zone, creating a 2-on-1 rush. He passed to Ovechkin, who shot off the post behind Matt Murray… and then batted the airborne rebound into the open net.

`From the moment we started playing together, we clicked. I was more of a playmaker, and he was a natural goal scorer,` Backstrom reflected recently. `I think he simply loves to score goals. That`s been his driving force for years.`

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10. January 19, 2006: Ovechkin`s Full Throttle Goal Against the Blues

As Capitals announcer Joe Beninati famously described it, Ovechkin went `full throttle` through the neutral zone, completely outmaneuvering veteran St. Louis Blues defenseman Eric Weinrich before slipping the puck past goalie Curtis Sanford.

In a 2022 interview, Ovechkin actually ranked this goal as his second favorite from a list of 10 compiled by the NHL.

`I had full speed and made a good move,` he said. `The game was different then, more open. Now it`s more compact.`

Ovechkin also pointed out that this goal came immediately after another classic goal he scored against Phoenix on January 16, which appears later on this list…

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9. January 25, 2014: Ovechkin`s Juggling Goal Against the Canadiens

This goal revealed another skill: Ovechkin`s ability to juggle.

Ovechkin collected a rebound from a Carey Price save in mid-air behind the Montreal net. He tapped it with his stick, juggled it again to move it closer to the goal, and then tapped it past Price for a power-play goal, celebrating with raised arms and a roar.

`You won`t see a more skillful goal from a so-called “hands guy” in the NHL,` commented Capitals announcer Craig Laughlin.

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8. February 4, 2010: The One-Handed Classic

This goal, marking Ovechkin`s 500th career point, perfectly illustrates the challenge of stopping him when he`s at his best.

Backstrom found him in stride. Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsival reached out to impede Ovechkin, drawing a penalty. Despite the hold, Ovechkin skillfully maneuvered through and launched a one-handed shot – with his left arm no less – at Henrik Lundqvist`s pads. The puck deflected off Lundqvist`s stick and into the net.

Ovechkin mentioned after the game that it was likely the first goal he had ever scored with only one hand on his stick, as his `hand isn`t strong enough` for such shots. As The New York Times headline declared after the Capitals` 6-5 victory: `Rangers Surrender Game and Stage to Ovechkin Show.`

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7. April 6, 2025: Ovechkin Surpasses Gretzky

At 12:34 of the second period against the New York Islanders on April 6th, Ovechkin finally surpassed Wayne `The Great One` Gretzky, scoring his 895th career goal. He could have broken the record in his previous home game against the Chicago Blackhawks, but Ovechkin was determined not to set the record with an empty-net goal. Instead, history was made with a classic Ovechkin goal: a powerful shot from the top of the circle on the power play, followed by a celebratory belly slide across the ice.

The aesthetics of the goal were secondary to the magnitude of the moment in sports history. Goal number 895 secured Ovechkin`s place as the NHL`s all-time leading goal scorer.

This achievement was something Gretzky himself encouraged. He had supported Ovechkin through interviews and private messages throughout the chase, recalling a lesson he learned when he was pursuing Gordie Howe`s record.

`My dad told me, “Someone will eventually break your record. When they do, be as gracious to them as Gordie Howe was to you. Smile, shake their hand, and be proud of what you accomplished. It`s good for the game,”` Gretzky recounted in 2020.

The game of hockey has never been better, from the speed and skill to the defense, goaltending, coaching, and overall talent in the league. Ovechkin breaking this record in this era is an extraordinary feat.

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6. December 26, 2008: Ovechkin Dominates Buffalo

Simply put: `Buffaslug.`

Ovechkin`s unforgettable 2008 goal came against a Buffalo Sabres team wearing jerseys considered among the worst in NHL history, replacing their classic logo with a controversial design. Perhaps Ovechkin was making them pay for this fashion misstep with an incredible end-to-end goal.

He started by deflecting the puck away from a Sabres forechecker and then took off. Buffalo defenseman Henrik Tallinder tried to catch him, seemingly dispossessing him of the puck. However, Ovechkin maintained control the entire time, like a trick with a dollar bill on a string. Ovechkin shot as he fell, beating Patrick Lalime and sliding into him like a curling stone.

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5. May 2, 2015: Ovechkin Scores from His Knee Against the Rangers

Another playoff goal, during one of many postseason clashes between Ovechkin and the New York Rangers, and arguably one of his most remarkable considering the players involved.

Facing Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi, one of the league`s top defensive pairings at the time, and Hall of Fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist, Ovechkin split the defense, causing them to collide. Despite losing his balance and falling to his knee, Ovechkin snapped a shot before hitting the ice.

Teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov described the goal as `sick,` according to the New York Post. `I used some Russian bad words, but I meant “sick,”` he said.

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4. December 20, 2014: Too `Dangle-licious` For Words

This goal against the New Jersey Devils inspired Capitals play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati to coin the term `dangle-licious`.

Ovechkin sped through the neutral zone towards Devils defenseman Jon Merrill, who might have felt relief knowing teammate Travis Zajac was backing him up. But as Zajac reached for the puck, Ovechkin executed a toe-drag around Merrill and headed for the net. Goalie Cory Schneider had the lower net covered as Ovechkin fell… only for Ovechkin to backhand the puck under the crossbar for another incredible goal.

`He was on fire tonight. You can see why he`s such a dangerous player,` Schneider commented. `He made an incredible move. I stayed with him, and I thought I had him. He managed to elevate it in tight and finish it off. I was right there, I thought I had it. He made a great play at the end.`

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3. April 24, 2009: Ovechkin`s Playoff Goal Against the Rangers

This postseason goal against the Rangers was straight out of a video game.

After a turnover by Nikolai Zherdev, Ovechkin collected the puck and raced down the ice. Chris Drury attempted to slow him down but was deked out of position. Derek Morris tried next, only to have Ovechkin dangle the puck through his legs. Aaron Voros finally caught up, but Ovechkin backhanded the puck past Lundqvist.

`My backhand was awful. Lucky bounce,` Ovechkin joked at the time.

Lucky for him, indeed.

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2. February 18, 2009: The `Hamrlik Goal`

In 2011, veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik joined the Capitals as a free agent, becoming Ovechkin`s teammate. The question naturally arises: Did they ever discuss this particular goal?

Hamrlik was playing for the Montreal Canadiens in 2009 when he chased the puck to the red line, where Ovechkin outpaced him. Ovechkin poked the puck off the boards, around Hamrlik, and executed a spin-o-rama to enter the Montreal zone. Kyle Chipchura backchecked and knocked Ovechkin to the ice. But as Ovechkin slid towards Carey Price, he flicked the puck forehand past the Montreal goalie for a spectacular goal. Ovechkin sat up, raised his arms, and signaled for his teammates to join the celebration.

Wes Johnson, the Capitals` long-time public address announcer, was positioned right behind the glass where Ovechkin made his initial move.

`I thought, “Oh my God, he passed the puck to himself.” He spun around the defenseman and then fooled the goalie while falling down,` he recalled. `It was the most incredible goal I had ever witnessed live in my 25 years on the job.`

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1. January 16, 2006: `The Goal`

What`s the purpose of a ranking if not to inspire discussion and disagreement? Many of Ovechkin`s agile and improbable goals could have topped this list, defying expectations. But that would be a gimmick, and ultimately, disingenuous.

`The Goal` is Ovechkin`s `Citizen Kane`, a masterpiece that announced the arrival of a true hockey artist. When we envision any of the nearly 900 goals that define Ovechkin`s career, this game in Glendale, Arizona, and what Sportsnet ranked as the greatest goal of the 21st century, comes to mind.

It was Ovechkin`s rookie season, during which he reached 30 goals by mid-January. He collected the puck at center ice and skated towards Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Paul Mara. He attempted to deke Mara, but the defenseman didn`t take the bait, raising his arms to disrupt Ovechkin. He succeeded in knocking Ovechkin off balance, but not in stopping him from reaching the puck.

As the Capitals star rolled onto his back, he managed to control the puck with one hand on his stick and send a desperate shot towards the Coyotes net. Goalie Brian Boucher extended his stick as a last resort, only to watch the puck glide into the net.

In the stands, watching `The Goal`, was an 8-year-old Coyotes fan named Auston Matthews, who would later be inspired to score hundreds of his own NHL goals. Behind the Coyotes` bench, observing `The Goal`, was Gretzky, then the Phoenix head coach and the NHL`s all-time leading scorer – at that time.

Early in the game, Beninati noted that Ovechkin was still 860 goals behind Gretzky`s record of 894. Laughlin chuckled at the idea of a rookie starting down the path to catch `The Great One`.

`Good luck, Mr. Ovechkin,` Beninati said. `Good luck.`