hahahahah goal)))) (Photo credit: dynamo.ru)

Despite recording a point in his first-ever KHL game, Alex Ovechkin missed on numerous opportunities to score in Dynamo Moscow’s 7-2 blowout victory on Thursday. On Sunday, Ovechkin showed why he’s one of the world’s most fearsome shooters, immediately recording a goal in the first period of Dynamo’s loss to SKA St. Petersburg. It was the Russian machine’s first regular season tally in Russia since 2005.

GIFs of his goal are below the jump.

Created by @CarrotBazooka. Check out her other two GIFs of the goal here and here.

In the fifteenth minute of the first period, Dynamo’s Filip Novak raced into SKA’s offensive zone during a powerplay. As several SKA defenders converged on him, he passed to Ovechkin who rocketed home a one-timer past SKA goaltender Evgeny Ivannikov. Excitedly, Ovechkin, who had ELEVEN shots on goal in 23:56 of ice time today, dashed to the side boards and celebrated the PPG with his teammates.

SKA was too much for Dynamo though. Ilya Kovalchuk (the newly-named captain) got an assist in his first KHL game and Maxim Afinogenov scored the game-winner in the second period. Viktor Tikhonov also added a powerplay goal in the third period to seal it.

Dynamo will next play Wednesday against Аk Bars.

Additional Photos and Video

Photo credit: dynamo.ru

Photo credit: ria.ru

Ovechkin and Kovalchuk line-up during a face-off. (Photo credit: ria.ru)

Highlights of the game from championat.ru.

Ovechkin’s press conference after the game via championat.ru

“I deed it!! I finally score!!” (Photo credit: Dynamo Moscow)

Thursday night at Small Sports Arena in Luzhniki, Moscow, Alex Ovechkin returned to the Russian team that put him on the world’s stage as a teenager. And his performance did not disappoint.

In Moscow Dynamo’s 7-2 win over Dinamo Minsk, Ovechkin had seven shots, two big hits, and recorded his first ever KHL point, a powerplay assist, in 17:38 of ice time.

Highlights of the game are below the jump.

Ovechkin’s assist comes at the 9:06 mark. He also has a big hit at 9:20.

Ovi shoots. (Photo credit: Dynamo Moscow)

The defending champions’ new six-million dollar man started the game and was put on the first line with Mikhail Anisin (first video down) and Konstantin Gorovikov. After rifling two shots on net in the first period, Ovechkin was interviewed by Russia-2′s sideline reporter during intermission. When the reporter pointed out that the fans seemed to have trouble believing he was actually playing in Moscow again, Ovechkin beamed,”they’ll have to. I’m here.”

When Ovechkin came out for the second stanza, he seemed to settle down a bit. During an early period power play, Ovechkin set a screen in front of the net to allow Filip Novak to score. Later in the period, Ovechkin showed off his strength, casually laying out Libor Pivko at center ice to force a turnover.

In the third period, the great thirty-two finally got on the score-sheet. After spending most of the game set-up in front of the net on the power play, Dynamo head coach Oleg Znarok moved Ovechkin at the point. It immediately paid dividends. After Ovi fired a shot near the blue line, Dynamo’s Alexei Tsvetkov potted the rebound. The goal put Dynamo up 6-2. The white and blue would add one more in the final minutes to defeat Minsk 7-2.

Sunday, Dynamo will take the ice again and play SKA St. Petersburg. Ovi’s good friend, Ilya Kovalchuk, will suit up and his KHL debut for SKA that day.

Notes: Ovechkin led all Dynamo forwards in TOI (17:38) and was fourth among all Dynamo skaters. Ovechkin’s Dynamo jersey was sold at concession stands for $370.

Photo credit: Pavel Lysenkov