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The Noon Number: Lapping the Field

A look at how Ovechkin stacks up against some unusual competition

By Becca H
NHL: Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

12 - Number of teams in the NHL who have scored fewer goals than Alex Ovechkin has so far this season. Seven teams are sitting at seven goals-for (all through three games), while Minnesota has six (two GP), Carolina and Vancouver are at five (two GP), and San Jose and Montreal have four goals apiece. Only Montreal has played as many games this year as Ovechkin.

With his eighth goal of the year last night, Ovechkin has matched the highest goal total of any player in the “modern era” through the first four games of a season. More from Elias:

The other players with eight goals at the four-game mark since 1943–44 were Mud Bruneteau (1943–44 Red Wings), Bobby Hull (1965–66 Black Hawks), Don Murdoch (1976–77 Rangers), Peter Stastny (1982–83 Nordiques), Mark Parrish (2001–02 Islanders) and Patrick Marleau (2012–13 Sharks).