Alex Ovechkin matches Gordie Howe and closes out season with 44 goals at age 39

In the Washington Capitals' season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Great Eight shot a vintage one-timer from his office at the top of the left circle which ripped a cross-ice feed from Dylan Strome past Alex Nedeljkovic's glove.

The second-period power-play goal cut the Penguins' lead to 3-2 and gave Alex Ovechkin his 897th career goal.

The play bore a striking similarity to goal No. 895 which is the one that made Ovi the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer earlier this season and it was also his third career goal against Alex Nedeljkovic and his 43rd against the Penguins which is the most by any active player and sixth-most all-time.

Alex Ovechkin finishes his campaign with 44 goals in just 65 games which is good for an excellent 0.68 goals per game, the fifth-best rate of his career.

If you want to add to it, he missed 17 games due to a broken leg and is yet still ranked third in league goal scoring behind Leon Draisaitl with 52 goals and William Nylander with 45.

The goal also tied him with Gordie Howe for the most goals by a player aged 39 or older in a single season since Gordie Howe had 44 in 1968-69.

Alex Ovechkin's 14 power-play goals this year bring his career total to 326 which is cementing his all-time lead over Dave Andreychuk with 274.

His ongoing rivalry with Sidney Crosby was also on full display in this one since the two generational icons faced off for the 73rd time.

Sidney Crosby scored just five minutes beforeAlex Ovechkin and notched his 33rd goal of the season and 624th of his career.

One more regular-season masterpiece and one step closer to 900.