The Athletic Hockey Show Ovechkin scores 900th career NHL goal
Nov 6, 2025
Alex Ovechkin hits a monumental milestone with his 900th career goal, but the moment is hilariously overshadowed by goalie Jordan Binnington's cheeky attempt to stash the puck in his pants. The hosts unpack the chaotic Eastern Conference standings influenced by team parity, while casting their eyes on rising stars like Cutter Gauthier and Moritz Seider. They also explore the St. Louis Blues' struggles and discuss which middle-of-the-pack teams might surprise as the season unfolds.
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Binnington Tries To Hide Ovechkin's Puck
- Jordan Binnington tried to pocket Alex Ovechkin's 900th-goal puck and hide it in his pants during the handshake line.
- Hosts debated whether he kept it, trashed it, or simply pulled a classic goalie jerk move.
Process Can Mask Goaltending Collapse
- St. Louis shows strong expected-goal metrics but terrible results due largely to goaltending variance.
- Good process and underlying numbers can coexist with ugly outcomes when goalie play collapses.
East Parity Compresses Playoff Race
- The Eastern Conference shows extreme parity early in the season with tiny gaps between teams.
- That tightness means playoff thresholds may be lower but the race will be crowded and chaotic.