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Sniper Ovechkin Has Sight Set On 60

Authored by Michael Sonday - 17th March, 2008 - 6:26 pm

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There are only 18 players in the history of the National Hockey League that are part of the 60 goal club. With just three more tallies this season, Washington Capitals' forward Alexander Ovechkin could become the newest member of this elite group that includes the likes of Phil Esposito, Mike Bossy, Guy Lafleur and Wayne Gretzky.

It has been 12 years since the NHL has had a 60 goal scorer. Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux both scored over 60 goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 95-96 season, scoring 62 and 69 respectively. Playing on the same line, Lemieux and Jagr worked great together, making it impossible for opposing defenses to stop the both of them. For Ovechkin, he has not had the luxury of playing with Jagr, Lemieux, or any other superstar this season. Ovechkin has had to be a one man show in the nation’s capital accounting for 26.8% of the Capitals' goals and has been involved in 46.7% of their scoring.

At the trade deadline, the Capitals obtained some help for Ovechkin by acquiring agitator Matt Cooke from Vancouver and the aging Sergei Federov from Columbus . The trades, although not major impact deals, have seemed to help Ovechkin as he has scored eight goals and has chipped in seven assists since the new faces have arrived.

Ovechkin’s rare talent can be attributed to his exceptional speed which makes him one of the best transition players in the game. His ability to find open ice and create his own opportunities has allowed him to assault goalies with 395 shots so far this season. Olli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers is a distant second with 313 shots, 82 fewer than Ovechkin.

With 57 goals through 73 games, Ovechkin is averaging 0.78 goals a game. With nine games remaining, his current average would project him to finish with 64 goals this season. The projected goal total would be the most goals scored by a Russian born player since Alexander Mogilny scored 76 in the 92-93 season.

This season Ovechkin has given the Washington Capitals and the NHL an exciting new identity that both have definitely needed. Scoring 50 goals is a mark of greatness in the NHL, scoring 60 makes you an instant legend. If Ovechkin can score three more goals he can add his name to that prestigious list of legends that have achieved this major accomplishment.

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