Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 897 goals during his 20-season career, recently shared his three favorite career goals, and surprisingly, his record-breaking 895th goal was not among them. Following his participation in the Match of the Year exhibition game between Russian NHL stars and top KHL players, Ovechkin spoke to Match TV about his most memorable goals.

The first goal Ovechkin highlighted came during the 2006 Winter Olympics quarterfinals against Canada, a defining moment early in his international career. At just 20 years old, Ovechkin scored the game-winning goal that helped Russia defeat Canada 2-0 and eliminate the favored Canadians from medal contention.

Making a spectacular diving effort to keep the puck in the offensive zone during a power play, Ovechkin pushed to the front of the net and finished a precise pass from future Washington Capitals linemate Viktor Kozlov. This goal marked Ovechkin’s third on Martin Brodeur, after previously scoring twice against him in his rookie NHL season with the Capitals.

Despite the victory over Canada, Russia’s Olympic run ended shortly after, suffering losses to Finland in the semifinals and the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game. Ovechkin ended the tournament with a strong showing of five goals in eight games.

“The first was at the 2006 Olympics, when we beat Canada,”

Ovechkin stated.

The Iconic Rookie Season Goal Against Phoenix Coyotes

Ovechkin’s second most cherished goal took place during his rookie NHL season on January 16, 2006, in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes—an extraordinary goal that many consider one of the greatest ever scored in the league’s history. As he fell and spun backward, Ovechkin executed a remarkable behind-the-back shot, beating goaltender Brian Boucher in the third period of a dominant 6-1 victory for Washington.

This goal became famously known just as The Goal. It was witnessed live by Coyotes head coach and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who expressed amazement when viewing the replay during the game. A young Auston Matthews, then just eight years old, was also in attendance for the historic moment at Glendale Arena.

At the time, this was only Ovechkin’s 32nd NHL goal, prompting Capitals announcer Joe Beninati to jokingly suggest Ovechkin would need approximately 860 more to catch Gretzky’s all-time record. Nearly two decades later, Ovechkin would surpass that benchmark with Beninati calling the game.

“The second was my rookie season, when I scored a behind-the-back shot against Phoenix,”

Ovechkin recalled.

The Stanley Cup Final Goal That Helped Secure Washington’s First Championship

The third goal Ovechkin chose is from the 2018 Stanley Cup Final during Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Receiving an impeccable saucer pass from Nicklas Backstrom on a power play, Ovechkin hammered home his third goal of the series, giving the Capitals a 2-1 lead early in the second period.

Although the goal itself was not the game-winner, the Capitals went on to claim their first-ever Stanley Cup title later in the game after Lars Eller scored with under eight minutes remaining. Ovechkin’s outstanding playoff performance earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL’s playoff MVP, finishing with 27 points over 24 games.

This goal holds particular significance because it came during Washington’s sole deep playoff run with Ovechkin on the roster. He ranks 12th all-time in playoff goals with 77, leading all active players despite advancing beyond the second round only once—in 2018. Notably, all players ahead of him on the leaderboard have won at least two Stanley Cups.

“The third was the Stanley Cup Final,”

Ovechkin said.

When I scored in the fifth game of the series against Vegas.”

Ovechkin’s Remarkable Career Milestones and What Lies Ahead

As Alex Ovechkin approaches the 2025-26 NHL season, he stands just three goals away from becoming the first player in league history to reach 900 career regular-season goals. Additionally, he trails Wayne Gretzky by only 42 goals in combined regular-season and playoff tallies, a testament to his consistent scoring ability over two decades.

Despite his unprecedented scoring achievements, Ovechkin’s favorite goals focus more on their impact and personal significance rather than record-breaking statistics. His choices reflect key moments that shaped his career with Team Russia and the Washington Capitals, highlighting memorable victories on the international stage and at the pinnacle of NHL competition.

Fans and hockey enthusiasts are invited to share their own favorite Alex Ovechkin goals, adding to the ongoing conversation around the legacy of one of hockey’s greatest goal scorers.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Alex Ovechkin smart?

A. Carlson, a defenseman for the Capitals who has been with Ovechkin for 16 seasons, said: “He’s amazing. He takes shots you wouldn’t expect and finds open spaces. He might not get enough credit for how smart he is as a player.”