While Ovechkin is widely known and celebrated for his goal-scoring abilities, his consistent ability to generate shots on goal is often overlooked. Over the course of his illustrious career, Ovechkin has consistently been among the league leaders in shots on goal, finishing in the top 10 in that category almost every single season, including a league-leading 406 shots on goal during the 2018-19 season.
Ovechkin’s shot totals have not only helped him rack up goals and points, but have also proven to be a valuable asset for the Washington Capitals as a whole. His ability to generate shots puts constant pressure on opposing goaltenders and creates scoring opportunities for his teammates. Ovechkin has a total of 6190 shots on goal in 1,304 NHL games, an average of 4.8 shots per game.
Alex Ovechkin will soon pass Ray Bourque, who had 6209 shots on goal in his career, only 19 more than Ovechkin’s current total.
As Ovechkin approaches the NHL record for shots on goal, it is clear that his incredible shot-generating ability is a key part of his game and has contributed significantly to his success and that of the Capitals. While the shots on goal record will be beaten within a couple games, it will be exciting to see if Ovechkin can surpass Gretzky’s goal record and cement his place in NHL history.
Ovechkin currently sits on 797 career goals, only 4 behind Gordie Howe who had 801, and 97 behind Wayne Gretzky who had 894.
