[03-Mar-2016] #OviWatch, #TrotzWatch, and #KuzyaWatchin' - Caps rake up Leafs 3-2...

Last night's tussle with the Maple Leafs went reasonably well - particularly in the WIN column. Ovi scored his 516th goal, and Head Coach Barry Trotz won his 649th game, placing him 9th all time.

#OviWatch

With his 516th goal, Ovi is two goals behind Dale Hawerchuk for 35th all time. 

Hawerchuk, 52, played in a total of 1,188 games, and appeared on the Winnipeg Jets (1981-82 through 1989-90), Buffalo Sabres (1991-92 through 1994-95), St. Louis Blues (1995-96), Philadelphia Flyers (1995-96 through 1996-97). In that time, he scored 518 goals. Hawerchuk is now the head coach of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. The Colts play in the same league as Dale Hunter's London Knights, and at present have a record of 36-20-0-2 for 58 standings points, good for first in the Central Division. They have clinched a playoff spot, but have not yet clinched their division. (For comparison, the Knights have a record of 43-13-2-1 for 89 points, good for second place in the Midwest Division. Barrie has 6 games remaining in their season. Dale coaches his son, Ben Hawerhuk in Barrie; the left wing has 4 goals, 5 assists, 29 penalty minutes, in 59 games played, and wears #16 for Barrie. 

Ovi is still scoring .672 goals per game. With 19 games remaining in the season, if he plays every one, and scores at his same rate, he'll have 12-13 more goals this year, putting him at 528 or 529 goals (career) at the end of the season... Frank Mahovlich (533 goals in 1181 games) is #32, so unless Ovi scores a lot more than 528-529, he'll still need another season to catch Mahovlich at #32. 

33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP
36 - Alex Ovechkin - 516 G, 821 GP
37 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP
38 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP
39 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP
40 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP
41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP
42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP

Meanwhile Head Coach Barrie Trotz has become the 9th-winningest coach of all time, jumping ahead of #10 Ron Wilson with last night's victory. Trotz needs 33 more wins to hit #8 (surpassing Mike Keenan, 672 wins in 1386 games). 

#KuzyaWatchin' 

Our Kuzya didn't get any primary assists last night; he had a secondary assist on the Taylor Chorney goal, but TJ Oshie was the star in the assist department last night, having a hand in all three Caps goals.