Alex Ovechkin did it again.
Entering Saturday's game in St. Louis - Game 81 on the regular-season schedule - the Washington Capitals superstar winger sat on 47 goals, thereby needing a hat trick to record the seventh 50-goal season of his career.
In the end, Ovechkin did indeed score three goals on the night to hit the milestone, a feat spurred on by a first-period goal scored from an all-too-familiar spot: The blocker side faceoff circle.
Here's how it happened.
With teammate Nicklas Backstrom (19) and Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) chasing the puck in the right corner, Ovechkin (8) skated unchecked around the far post, ready to take possession should it bounce his way.
Having made his way to the near post, and with his eyes ever on the puck, Ovechkin watched as T.J. Oshie (77) knocked the puck loose before being tied by up Carl Gunnarsson (4) along the boards.
As Backstrom gathered the puck and passed it back to defenseman John Carlson (74), Ovechkin - now shadowed by Blues forward Troy Brouwer - circled backwards around the front of the net and closer to his office.
Carlson received the pass and got himself in position to either pass or shoot, drawing the full attention of no fewer than four Blues skaters, as well as goaltender Brian Elliott, who squared up to make a save attempt.
Meanwhile, Ovechkin, again unchecked, positioned himself for a scoring chance.
Carlson has played with Ovechkin long enough to know what to do next, and therefore made the wise choice to dish the puck to the expectant winger.
To no one's surprise, Ovechkin was able to take advantage of the open space to Elliott's right, and promptly deposited the puck into the back of the net for his first of the night and 48th of the season.
At this point in his career, it's astonishing Ovechkin can continue to fire at will from this spot, but here he was able to do it against a team that sits third overall in the NHL standings and tied for fourth in goals against.
It's but one reason why only Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy have recorded more 50-goal seasons than Ovechkin, who, at age 30, has a ways to go before he's done terrorizing the opposition.
