Forward “Washington Capitals” Alexander Ovechkin once again became the hero of a game day in the NHL. In the match with the Los Angeles Kings, the forward brought victory to his team, scoring three goals in the end of the meeting. Moreover, the current hat-trick was the fastest in his career: the forward designed it in 324 seconds. In addition, a Russian with 40 goals in 53 matches of the season single-handedly led the sniper race.
Ovechkin’s track record now has 698 goals, which means that he came close to the club of the elite, which includes those who scored at least 700 goals. Currently, it includes seven hockey players: Mike Gartner, Phil Esposito, Marcel Dionne, Brett Hull, Jaromir Jagr, Gordy Howe and Wayne Gretzky.
Grateful Capitals fans, in honor of Ovechkin’s next feat, made a poster and fixed it on the gates of the striker’s house. The photo was published by the wife of the hockey player on her Instagram. "698. Ovi the great, ”the inscription read.
Fully shares the point of view of fans and the head coach of Capitals Todd Rirden. In his opinion, the team won over the Kings precisely thanks to the Russian striker.
“In less than five minutes, he turned everything upside down. We won thanks to this. That's what superstars do. This is a truly special hockey player, ”Rirden said.
The skill of the Russian was highly appreciated by hockey experts. Bright epithets after the victory over Los Angeles went to the striker from the publication Yahoo Sports.
“Do not believe a single word from those who claim that Ovechkin is not the best sniper in history,” the post published the post on his Twitter account.
Phil Esposito, a member of the 700 Club, praised the Russian player not only for his performance and skill, but also for the passion with which he treats every goal scored.
“I like to watch him score, including because of his real joy. I can’t stand it when players perceive goals as something ordinary ... Just not Ovechkin. He scored nearly 700 goals and every time he almost jumped overboard, ”Esposito admitted in an interview with the NHL official website.
At the same time, the forward will get a chance to enter the “Club 700” this Saturday, when Washington will meet with the Philadelphia Flyers. His teammates also believe that the Russians will overcome the treasured mark very soon. Thus, the defender of the Capitals John Carlson said that team players often discuss Ovi's potential record.
“We talk a lot about this. Yes, 700 goals is something crazy, but highly deserved. Alex has been and remains amazing throughout his career. As soon as people begin to say that Ovechkin is old, or some other such nonsense, he does not wait for a long time to answer them with another series of goals ... The madness that he creates on the site has become the norm, "said Carlson in an interview with Sport Express. "
True, as the hockey player himself admitted, he cannot score “by order”. In addition, due to the tight schedule, the team barely manages to train, and therefore the players' thoughts are now occupied with completely different problems.
“Sometimes the majority can junk. In two games in a row, we could not implement it, so there is something to work on. And the priority is not at all whether I will take a double, ”Ovechkin quotes Match TV.
The hockey player also said that he is trying not to think about records and just playing hockey, but he still fails to completely ignore these thoughts, because journalists constantly remind him of this.
“After the matches, family and friends congratulate me, but I try not to lose concentration and not exchange my emotions. I'm just doing my job ... But how can I not think about goals at all when you ask me these questions all the time? ”Added the Stanley Cup winner.
“If anyone can break Gretzky’s record, then only Ovechkin”
Ovechkin is breaking record after record, and many are confident that he will not stop there. So, head coach of the Los Angeles Kings Todd McLellan immediately after the lost match said that 700 goals was abandoned for the Russian far from the limit.
“Give Ovechkin another couple of years, he will score 800 goals. In the last meeting with us, it was exactly the case when the player at first wasn’t very noticeable, and then - bang, bang, bang - and the puck in the net, the opponent celebrates the victory, ”said McLellan.
According to Marcel Dionne, a member of the 700 club, only health problems can stop a Russian striker.
“He will score 800. I have no doubt about that. Unless you get injured or something like that. One day he will stop, but I can’t imagine it. He is full of energy, it is very interesting to watch him, ”said Dionne.
The legendary Czech striker Jaromir Jagr is also sure that Ovechkina is waiting for new records. He admitted that he once doubted the Russian, but the striker managed to convince him.
“For him it’s not so important what hockey was like ten years ago and what it is now. He is able to adapt. Even I was amazed at this. There was a period when it seemed to me that he was slowing down, but suddenly everything changed, and he was back on horseback, ”said Jagr.
New successes read Ovi and other NHL record holder Mike Gartner. According to him, a Russian can even challenge the legendary Wayne Gretzky, who scored 894 goals in his time.
“Wayne Gretzky is the greatest sniper of all time. This is indicated by the numbers. He scored 894 goals. He can not be recognized as the greatest sniper. If someone can break his record, then this is only Alex. He has a great shot. He throws very strong, incredibly accurate and very fast. Quite often, you can meet hockey players who possess one of these qualities, maybe two. He has three of them. This is a unique combination. This is rarely seen, ”said Gartner.