Why Alex Ovechkin is so dangerous from his 'office' - ESPN

Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery smiles while discussing «the few faceoff plays» they run for Alex Ovechkin.

When it's from the right circle, the Capitals call it «Shooter Back.» From the left circle, they call it «Board Side O» — as in, «board side Ovechkin.» Numerous goals have come from these play designs, which have been so successful that every other team in the NHL has its own version — albeit without Ovechkin on the finishing end.

Ovechkin's legacy is about scoring goals — as he closes in on Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 — and these plays are an instrumental part of that legacy. So much so that the area in the left faceoff circle has become known as «Ovi's Office.»

Ovechkin became synonymous with faceoff goals because of the play designs and his ability to get a shot off whether the puck is flat or wobbly. There's also the Capitals' ability — even as Ovechkin gets older — to supply him with a certain archetype of teammate that has helped foster continuity and make adjustments as he approaches the record. «The reality is all you're trying to do is get the puck in his hands, on his stick, and let him get a clean shot off anywhere inside the top of the circles,» Carbery said.

Ovechkin scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 5, 2005. That was before leading rookie of the year contender Macklin Celebrini was born — his birthday is June 13, 2006. Ovechkin can score from anywhere on the ice, but the faceoff circle is where he has done much of his damage — 210 of them since 2007-08, according to MoneyPuck data.

Multiple coaches and players from across the NHL agreed Ovechkin's pursuit of Gretzky's record is a testament to consistency — not just for Ovechkin, but the Capitals, who are still placing their franchise's