Mark Madden: Alex Ovechkin deserves respect, but is he worthy of top-5 all-time status?

After putting his previous four goals into an empty net, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals got three past a goalie Tuesday night, the last of those giving him 800 on his career.

There’s no belittling Ovechkin’s empty-net success. They don’t ask how; they ask how many.

After Mario Lemieux put goal No. 600 into an unoccupied cage, he was asked if doing so disappointed him. “Not at all,” Lemieux responded. “That’s how I got to 600.”

Ovechkin got to 800. Next stop is 802, which pushes him past Gordie Howe into second place on the NHL’s all-time list. After that, it’s on to 895. That would surpass Wayne Gretzky and make Ovechkin hockey’s top marksman ever.

A few disclaimers: Howe also scored 174 goals in six World Hockey Association seasons. The WHA wasn’t the NHL. But it wasn’t chopped liver, either. (Gretzky also scored 46 WHA goals.)

If Lemieux would have stayed healthy, he would have scored 1,000 goals.

But as Ovechkin continues his ascension at 37 — he is on pace for 52 goals — it’s appropriate to consider his place in hockey history. (He’s fortunate to have won one Stanley Cup, in 2018, because that would otherwise be a huge blemish.)

Is Ovechkin the top finisher of all time?

That’s different than being the top goal scorer. That’s determined solely by the numbers. Ovechkin is going to be that.

Players like Lemieux and Mike Bossy were silky smooth finishers who would often pass the puck into the net. That’s not to underestimate their guile and versatility.

Lemieux had power, too. A big shot. He scored every way you can score: Quite literally so on Dec. 31, 1988.

Ovechkin is like a metronome: Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! He just fires that cannon over and over, the left half-wall on the power play being his spot.

But Ovechkin is also superb around the net, where his physicality pays off. His skating makes him a constant threat off the rush.

Ovechkin’s durability is a huge part of his success. He crashes, he bangs, he bullies, he gets stuck in, but he has missed more than five games in a season only twice.

Where does Ovechkin rank among hockey’s best?

That’s a frisky debate. Ovechkin is primarily a goal scorer. He has netted 50 goals in nine seasons and the equivalency once more in a shortened season. He hasn’t had 50 or more assists since 2010-11 and hasn’t hit the 100-point mark since the season prior.

Ovechkin isn’t lazy defensively but isn’t known for it. He is a physical force who can apply a breakneck, physically damaging forecheck.

When Ovechkin eclipses Gretzky’s goal record, though, it’s difficult to deny him his place near the very top.

But it’s impossible for me to jump Ovechkin over Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Gretzky and Sidney Crosby. Perhaps he slots in at No. 5 all time, replacing Howe.

Crosby and Ovechkin have been compared constantly since entering the NHL together in 2005.

Ovechkin is a better goal scorer and a bigger hitter. Crosby is superior at everything else and has won more. He scores a lot, too. Advantage Crosby.

But Ovechkin has been a worthy opponent. He looks and sounds like a pantomime Russian movie villain, but that’s part of the fun. He seems to have won the respect of Pittsburgh hockey fans. He has always had mine.

The Capitals next play at PPG Paints Arena on March 25. Mark that date and remember to give Ovechkin the standing ovation he deserves.

Ovechkin isn’t Crosby. But he’s close.