The 39-year-old Russian phenom is coming. Alex Ovechkin ranks fourth in goals this season (38) and finds himself only four goals shy from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record of 894 career goals. Ovi scored last night versus the Bruins and has the Hurricanes on tap for tonight’s matchup. After tonight, Washington will have just seven regular season games remaining.
In case you hadn’t heard, DraftKings Sportsbook is offering an Ovechkin-centered market, where you can bet on whether or not you think he will break the record this season, which team his 895th goal will come against and more!
There are numerous ways to attack this limited market but please read on to see my two favorite bets on DraftKings Sportsbook that may be worth your consideration.
Alex Ovechkin Specials on DraftKings Sportsbook
Dylan Strome Assist on Alex Ovechkin’s 895th Career Regular Season Goal (+150)
It’s hard to imagine Dylan Strome not being a part of Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal. Strome leads the Capitals in both points (72) and assists (48) and has assisted on a team-high 18 of Ovechkin’s goals this season. The 28-year-old center also shares a power play line with Ovi and leads the team in power play points (28). John Carlson (+400) is also an enticing option, and he assisted Ovechkin on his goal against the Bruins last night. Still, he has assisted on just six of Ovechkin’s goals this season while Strome has been Washington’s primary playmaker. Who am I not to take the chance on the primary playmaker being a part of the primary goalscorer’s career moment?
Team Alex Ovechkin Scores his 895th Career Regular Season Goal Against––Carolina Hurricanes (+425)
Now, let’s think about this logically. Ovechkin needs four goals and the Capitals have seven games remaining. Washington faces Carolina twice in its next four matchups and Ovechkin has found success against the strong goaltending duo of Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. Ovechkin has netted four goals in his last three games against the Hurricanes––all against Kochetkov. The veteran sniper has netted three goals in his last four games against Andersen, too. On top of all this good news, the Canes have been susceptible to wingers over the last two weeks, allowing over a goal a game to opposing left-wingers.
I’d expect Ovi to score at least once against either the Blackhawks or Islanders, too, making the Hurricanes at +425 odds the most enticing option. I understand the allure of the Blue Jackets at +150 odds, too, considering Ovechkin scored his first NHL goal against them in 2005, but his recent play and upcoming opponents suggest the record may already be broken by next Saturday, the first of two matchups versus Columbus.
