Top 10 Moments of the 2007-2008 NHL Season: No.1

This series is highlighting the top 10 moments of this past NHL season. Goals, pretty plays, hits, fights, and screw-ups, you'll see them all.

March 21, 2008: Alexander Ovechkin hits number 60.

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. You can make a top 10 highlight reel every season with just this guy's plays on it. Alexander Ovechkin has revolutionized the way hockey is played.

He alone, is worth the price of admission to a game. Sidney Crosby may be the NHL's favourite player, but Ovechkin is undoubtedly a player of the people. Beautiful goals, bone crunching hits, nifty stick handling, and enthusiastic celebrations are all a part of his daily game routine.

On this night, the Washington Capitals were visiting the Atlanta Thrashers, with Ovechkin sitting on 58 goals. Alexander the Great has punished the Thrashers throughout his career, putting up 14 goals and 11 assists in 12 games versus Atlanta.

It seemed fitting for him to reach the 60-goal plateau this evening. With just under five minutes to play in the first period, Alex takes a pass from Niklas Backstrom inside the Thrasher zone.

Like he's done so many times, he cuts to the right, waits a little, and fires it home. There's number 59, with a second goal to surely come. Down three-one in the third period, Ovechkin buries a rebound off a Mike Green slapshot.

There it is. He becomes the first 60-goal scorer in 12 years. The last time a player scored 60 goals was in the 1995-1996 season, when Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr both did it for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"It's always fun to score goals, especially when it's an important game," Ovechkin said. "I like playing in this building."

Ovechkin would add two assists, giving him four points, as the Capitals made the comeback to beat Atlanta five-three. This was one of the many games Washington won down the stretch to make the postseason.

Time will only tell what other records the great eight is going to break. For now, we can just continue to enjoy the unmatched effort he brings on the ice every night.

That does it for my series of the top 10 moments from the past NHL season. Thanks for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed it.

10) October 15, 2007: McCabe scores—on himself.

9) March 6, 2008: Riley Cote knocks out Andre Roy.

8) December 7, 2007: Dominik Hasek makes Marian Gaborik flip out.

7) January 15, 2008: Tic, tac, toe.

6) January 1, 2008: A classic finish.

5) February 19, 2008: Five down, five to go.

4) October 19, 2007: Jonathan Toews makes his presence felt.

3) January 17, 2008: Rich Nash comes through in the clutch.

2) December 20, 2007: Marian Gaborik nets five.