Alex Ovechkin, at 39 years old, continues to showcase one of the hardest shots in NHL history. Former Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas shared his painful experiences with Ovechkin's shooting power, recalling a bruise he sustained while trying to block one of Ovechkin's shots. Ovechkin leads forwards in both top and average shot speeds, solidifying his reputation as a premier shooter in the league. During a recent game, Gudas felt Ovechkin's power again when a shot deflected off his leg, demonstrating the ongoing threat he poses on the ice.
I asked Radko, a former Capital, if he's ready to go against his old friend, Alexander Ovechkin. He said, 'Of course.' I said, 'Are you going to look to get a big hit on him?' He said, 'I'd love to.' He said, 'The problem is A, it's tough to get a clean look at him, and B, when you do, you usually feel it as much as Ovi does.'
Gudas told me about a shot he took from Ovechkin underneath the right shoulder pad on his tricep. He said he looked at it after the game. 'Oh, there's a bruise.' He woke up the next morning, guys - the entire arm (was) black and blue. He said he learned a valuable lesson on how not to block an Alex Ovechkin shot.
Even at age 39, Ovechkin's shot remains among the league's best - unbothered by father time. Ovechkin is among the forward leaders in top shot speed (98.11 miles per hour; 99th percentile) and average shot speed (68.24 mph; 97th percentile).
Gudas felt the sting of Ovi's power again later during the actual game, collapsing to the ice after the puck ricocheted off his leg. Though Gudas kept Ovechkin's attempt from getting on net, Aliaksei Protas picked up the loose puck before scoring on Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal.
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