Approaching 500 Assists, Alex Ovechkin Remains Underrated Passer

(Caps Outsider)Alex Ovechkin has made a career of beating goaltenders with a virtually unbeatable shot. But as he powers on through yet another season where he leads the National Hockey League in goals, he is approaching another impressive milestone that is overshadowed by his unmatched scoring prowess.

When John Carlson found the net on a wacky sort of goal on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks, Ovechkin recorded his 19th assist of the 2017-18 season. Then he got two more against Carolina, giving him 498 for his career, just two away from the half-century mark.

Unlike his status as one of the top goal scorers in NHL history, there is a long list of players who have long surpassed…