Late in the season, as the Capitals inched closer to a fourth consecutive Metropolitan Division title, Ovechkin secured his eighth-career 50-goal campaign. By the end of the regular season, Ovechkin had his NHL record eighth-career goal-scoring title.
"He has the best shot ever," says goaltender Braden Holtby. "So, it doesn't come as a surprise to us. But I think the biggest thing with him is the last couple of years, he's really focused on all areas of his game and still been able to put up goals. I think that's a big reason why we've had success and why he's had success. It's pretty amazing to watch and see him shoot a puck. It's like nothing else."
Ovechkin has also quietly improved his offensive game at even strength. After ranking 67th in the League with 16 even-strength goals in 2016-17, Ovechkin has scored an NHL-best 65 even-strength markers in the two years since. That's no accident.
Following that 2016-17 season, Ovechkin was reminded that his power-play goals and the patented one-timer from the left faceoff circle would seemingly always be there. If he wanted to remain among the elite in an increasingly 'Young Man's' game, though, he'd have to do more at even strength. Ovechkin made a conscious effort to work on his speed and conditioning in the summer of 2017.
In the two years since, Ovechkin has shown an extra spring in his step, scoring more goals off the rush, or late in shifts or games. Ovechkin says he's felt fresh.
"We add some new stuff to my training," he says, "but overall during the whole year, we stuck to the system that works for me. Sometimes after a game, I felt like 'Did I even play? Am I even tired? Jesus, I want to play more.'"
To an extent Ovechkin has reinvented himself in his 30s, continuing to find ways to remain effective at an age when many superstars see an inevitable decline.