Alex Ovechkin went his third consecutive game to open the season without a goal, but he still managed to be the difference in the Washington Capitals\u2019 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers, Sunday.<\/p>\n
The 40-year-old winger had the primary assist on Anthony Beauvillier\u2019s second-period tally that ultimately ended up being the game-winner.<\/p>\n
With seemingly everyone in the building thinking he would shoot, Ovechkin utilized an indirect shot that Beavillier deftly redirected past Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick from the side of the net.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeau-tiful,\u201d the Capitals wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n The tweet wasn\u2019t the only pun inspired by the goal.<\/p>\n \u201cO-Beau!\u201d said one teammate in the locker room, probably John Carlson, after Spencer Carbery saluted \u201cO and Beau\u2019s\u2026 big f***ing play.\u201d<\/p>\n Incredibly, the primary assist was Ovechkin\u2019s 1,625th career point in the NHL and his 728th apple \u2014 second in franchise history only to Nicklas Backstrom\u2019s 762. Ovechkin\u2019s stat line now reads: 897 goals, 728 assists, and 1,625 points in 1,494 games.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of those plays where you\u2019re just trying to get open around the net,\u201d Beauvillier said to reporters of his goal<\/a>. \u201c[Ovi] didn\u2019t have a lane to the net, (so he) [found] my stick, and one of those where you\u2019re happy it goes in. It\u2019s a good play. It\u2019s a good look by O there\u2026 a great read by him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ovechkin now has two points \u2014 both primary assists \u2014 in the Capitals\u2019 first three games of the season. He\u2019s also fired 8 shots on goal and has 18 individual shot attempts \u2014 second only to Jakob Chychrun (22).<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t