At 40 years old, Alex Ovechkin remains an unstoppable force on the ice, proving that age is just a number when it comes to his physical dominance. In a recent game against the New York Islanders, the Capitals’ captain delivered a jaw-dropping moment that left fans in awe—and Casey Cizikas on the ice. But here’s where it gets controversial: was it a calculated move or just Ovechkin’s natural, relentless style? During the second period, with the Capitals on a power play, Ovechkin effortlessly glided into the offensive zone, aiming for a loose puck near Ilya Sorokin’s net. Meanwhile, Cizikas, 34, was completely absorbed in tracking the puck, his back turned to the approaching powerhouse. In a split second, Cizikas pivoted directly into Ovechkin’s towering 6’3”, 238-pound frame, resulting in a collision that Monumental Sports commentator Craig Laughlin aptly described as being ‘run over by a Mack truck.’ And this is the part most people miss: Ovechkin didn’t even need to exert himself to make the impact. Despite the chaos, Ovechkin’s shot attempt missed the mark, and Sorokin quickly covered the puck. Yet, the Capitals still secured a 4-2 victory, with Ovechkin logging an assist—his first point of the 2025-26 season—and two hits in 17:28 of ice time. This assist was historic, pushing him past Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux for the seventh-most road points in NHL history (784). Here’s the bold question: Is Ovechkin’s longevity and physicality a testament to his unmatched skill, or does it spark debate about the evolving nature of the game? With 3,747 career hits, he trails only retired NHLers Matt Martin (3,936) and Cal Clutterbuck (4,029) for the all-time lead since the NHL began tracking hits in 2005-06. What do you think? Is Ovechkin’s style a relic of a bygone era, or is he redefining what’s possible in modern hockey? Let us know in the comments!
