Ovechkin hit the NHL with literally a thundering, glass-breaking crash — the hit that he delivered on Columbus defenseman Radoslav Suchy that cracked the plexiglass on his very first NHL shift. He scored twice in that game, too, but afterward, all anyone could recall was that monstrous hit.

Now, at age 39, Ovechkin is on the verge of becoming the NHL's all-time goals leader, and he can pass Gretzky's mark of 894 before the end of season. The Capitals standout currently has 888 career goals after he scored his 35th of the season in the first period of Washington's 3-2 home win over the Philadelphia Flyers on March 20.