Ice-hockey player Aleksandr Ovechkin can now justifiably claim to be the Washington Capitals’ greatest player ever. The number eight scored a club record 61st goal of the season in the caps 3-2 shoot-out win over Carolina.

The Carolina Hurricanes fans hoped to see their side increasing their lead over the Capitals at the top of the Southeast division.

And things went to plan early on for the home side. Jeff Hamilton broke the deadlock on a power play late in the first period, but the Caps found their way back half-way through the second.

Washington had a two men advantage when Aleksandr Semin made it 1-1.

And then Aleksander the Great entered the stage. Niklas Backstrem and Viktor Kozlov set him up brilliantly and Ovechkin put his side in front, the forward scoring his 61st goal of the season to break the club record. He also increased his lead in the goal scoring standings to 11 goals.

But Carolina tied the game at 2 soon after with a controversial goal. Eric Cole slammed the puck and himself into the goal. After watching the reply the referee decided to allow the goal.

The game went to shot-outs, where Viktor Kozlov scored the only goal of the series 3-2 and Washington are now just 4 points behind Carolina in the Northeast division.