90 – Number of game-winning goals for Alex Ovechkin in his career, including both of the goals he’s scored this season. That’s the fourth-highest total among all active players behind Patrick Marleau (93), Jarome Iginla (97) and Jaromir Jagr (133), all of whom have played significantly longer than Ovechkin, and puts him into a tie for 18th all time with former Cap Mike Gartner.
Per Elias, the only players who come even close to Ovechkin’s GWG total since his NHL debut in October 2005 are Daniel Sedin (68), Patrick Marleau (65) and Jeff Carter (64).
Granted, it’s worth noting that game-winning goals are something of an imperfect stat. For one thing, when you play for a team that wins a lot, you have the opportunity to score more of them; for another, it lacks context, meaning a goal scored to make it 3-1 in a game that ends 3-2 counts the same as one that breaks a 2-2 tie.
Still, scoring goals and winning are both good things… especially when Alex Ovechkin is involved.