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Christopher Boan has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
Who Does Alex Ovechkin Play Best Against?
The 20th season of NHL hockey for nine-time Rocket Richard winner Alex Ovechkin is almost upon us for Virginia sports betting. The Washington Capitals look to return to make a deeper run in the NHL playoffs in the 2024-25 season after getting knocked out in the first round a year ago.
The future Hall of Fame forward enters the season 41 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s league record of 894 goals scored, so he’s on the precipice of a mark Ovi has spent much of his 1,426-game career chasing. In 2023-24, the Russian veteran, who just turned 39 on Sept. 17, nabbed 31 goals for Washington. That was his fewest in a full season since he had 33 in 2016-17.
With all that in mind, BetVirginia.com – where the best Virginia sportsbook promo codes are on offer – wanted to see which NHL teams “The Great 8” has thrived against the most over the last two decades, breaking down the numbers by points per game to determine the order.
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Who Does Alex Ovechkin Play Best Against?
Rank | Team | Games Played Against | Total Points Against | Points Per Game |
1 | Minnesota Wild | 23 games | 37 points | 1.61 PPG |
T2 | Calgary Flames | 24 games | 33 points | 1.38 PPG |
T2 | St. Louis Blues | 26 games | 36 points | 1.38 PPG |
Since entering the NHL in 2005, Ovechkin has achieved his best on-ice stats against Western Conference foes such as the Minnesota Wild (1.61 points per game, 37 points in 23 games), Calgary Flames (1.38 PPG/33 points in 24 games) and the St. Louis Blues (1.38 PPG/36 in 26).
Overall, Ovechkin has scored the most goals against the Carolina Hurricanes (50 goals in 90 games), while the Philadelphia Flyers (49 goals in 74 games), Florida Panthers and New York Islanders (44 goals apiece in 143 games combined) round out the top three.
Our Virginia NHL betting guide will get you ready for the upcoming season.
Who Does Alex Ovechkin Play Worst Against?
Rank | Team | Games Played Against | Total Points Against | Points Per Game |
1 | Vegas Golden Knights | 11 games | 7 points | 0.63 PPG |
T2 | Colorado Avalanche | 26 games | 21 points | 0.81 PPG |
T2 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 48 games | 39 points | 0.81 PPG |
T2 | Dallas Stars | 26 games | 21 points | 0.81 PPG |
Conversely, the NHL team that’s contained Ovechkin the best of them all is the lone franchise to lose a Stanley Cup championship to Washington. The Las Vegas Golden Knights have held Ovi to 0.63 points per game, giving up seven points in 11 career games.
The Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars have all given up 0.81 PPG on average to the Great 8. The Avs and Stars are among the Stanley Cup favorites for the 2024-25 season with BetMGM Virginia Sportsbook. Edmonton is a slight favorite at +850 odds, followed by the team that beat the Oilers in last season’s Stanley Cup final, the Florida Panthers (+900). Colorado and Dallas are next at +1100 on the operator's board, along with the New Jersey Devils.
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How Does Alex Ovechkin Play Against Division Opponents?
Team | Games Played Against | Total Points Against | Points Per Game |
Carolina Hurricanes | 90 games | 104 points | 1.16 PPG |
New Jersey Devils | 76 games | 86 points | 1.13 PPG |
Philadelphia Flyers | 74 games | 80 points | 1.08 PPG |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 76 games | 75 points | 0.99 PPG |
New York Islanders | 71 games | 68 points | 0.96 PPG |
New York Rangers | 73 games | 67 points | 0.92 PPG |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 48 games | 39 points | 0.81 PPG |
This season, oddsmakers at bet365 Virginia Sportsbook give Washington +1400 odds of winning the NHL’s Metropolitan Division, tied for fourth with the New York Islanders. The Devils (+180) are favorites, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes (+210) and New York Rangers (+260).
Of the seven other teams in the NHL’s Metro Division, the team that has rued facing Ovechkin the most is the Carolina Hurricanes, who have surrendered 104 points in 90 games to the Russian veteran.
Ovi also averages at least a point a game against the Devils (86 points in 76 games) and Philadelphia Flyers (80 points in 74 games). It might be a surprise to many Virginia sportsbook apps customers that the division rival with the best history of holding Ovechkin in check is the Columbus Blue Jackets (0.81 PPG).
But even that number speaks to the difficulty of trying to slow one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history.
USA Today photo by Geoff Burke
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