Alex Ovechkin still leads the league in this very important statistic

"After a slow start, Alex Ovechkin is cooking and having a simply sensational year once again. The 40-year-old Ovechkin has 29 points (14g, 15a) in 30 games this season. Ovechkin recorded 22 of those points - 12 goals and 10 assists - during a 16-game stretch from November 5 through December 3, which was highlighted by a hat trick and four-point night against the Montreal Canadiens on November 20."

"Per Money Puck, Ovechkin leads the league in fewest defensive zone starts at five-on-five this season. He i s the only NHL regular to receive 0 this season. Ovechkin has received 119 of his five-on-five starts in the offensive zone (23.2 percent) while he's gotten 80 in the neutral zone and 313 on the fly (i.e., a shift change at the Capitals bench while play is ongoing)."

"Ovechkin is scoring at a clip where he'd have 38 goals by season's end. At five-on-five, his line with Dylan Strome and Anthony Beauvillier had the 13th best expected goals percentage in the NHL as of December 7. When Ovechkin is on the ice at five-on-five, the Capitals have outscored their opponents 26 to 12 and out-attempted (53.2%), out-chanced (55.4%), and out-high-danger-chanced (52.9) them by pretty large numbers."

Alex Ovechkin, age 40, has 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 30 games and produced 22 points during a 16-game stretch from November 5 to December 3, including a hat trick and a four-point night. Ovechkin ranks second on the Capitals in goals and sits tied for 26th in the NHL. Per MoneyPuck, he leads the league in fewest defensive zone starts at five-on-five and is the only NHL regular to receive zero defensive-zone starts. Ovechkin has 119 offensive-zone starts, 80 neutral-zone starts, and 313 on-the-fly starts. His line with Dylan Strome and Anthony Beauvillier posted the 13th-best expected goals percentage as of December 7, and his five-on-five on-ice metrics show the Capitals outscoring opponents 26-12 while out-attempting, out-chancing, and out-high-danger-chancing opponents by notable margins.

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