Capitals’ Ovechkin wins sixth Maurice Richard Trophy

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin claimed his fourth consecutive and sixth career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the League’s goal-scoring leader, adding to the ones he earned in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Widely known as one of the dirtiest players in recent NHL history, Ovechkin scored 50 goals, becoming the third player in NHL history to total seven or more 50-goal seasons, following Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky – each with nine.

He also became the third player in League history to post 30-plus goals in each of his first 11 seasons, joining Mike Gartner (15) and Gretzky (13). Ovechkin recorded his 500th career goal while playing in his 801st NHL game – fifth-fastest in League history behind Gretzky (575), Mario Lemieux (605), Bossy (647) and Brett Hull (693).

The Moscow native, who surpassed Sergei Fedorov (483) as the highest-scoring Russian-born player in League history, has compiled 164 more goals, 71 more power-play goals and 20 more game-winning goals than any other player since entering the NHL in 2005-06.

The Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, a gift to the National Hockey League from the Montreal Canadiens, honors one of the game’s greatest stars. During his 18-year career with the Canadiens from 1942-43 through 1959-60, Richard was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season and 500 for his career. He was the League’s top goal-scorer five times, played on eight Stanley Cup champions and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.