Alex Ovechkin used to be considered a villain by Chicago Blackhawks fans

Alex Ovechkin did inch closer toward breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL goal-scoring record against the Chicago Blackhawks.

However, he only tied the Great One's record instead of breaking it against the Blackhawks.

Needing a hat trick to become the NHL's new all-time goal-scoring king, the Hawks' young blue line limited Ovi to two goals.

However, he got his first goal by taking advantage of the Hawks' inexperienced defensive unit when he created just enough space by skating away from the net that Alex Vlasic lost track of him.

That allowed enough space for former Hawks forward Dylan Strome to zip a pass to Ovechkin who slammed a shot past goalie Spencer Knight for career goal 893.

Ovechkin then tied Gretzky with his 894th career goal in the third period with the game-winning goal.

While the Hawks got a spotlight during a lost season because Ovi pursued history, it is nice they avoided being the team that allowed him to pass Gretzky.

That is because Ovechkin was once despised by the Blackhawks fanbase.

Ovechkin became public enemy No. 1 in 2010 when he laid a dirty hit on defenseman Brian Campbell. That hit broke Campbell's clavicle and some ribs.

It was so vicious that the thought was Campbell was lost for the season.

That boarding hit snapped Campbell's streak of playing in 388 consecutive regular season games, too. Ovechkin received a five-minute major and a two-game suspension. Although he felt he did nothing wrong at the time.

He nearly cost the Hawks a defenseman, who while overpaid, still had 31 assists in 2010. Thankfully, Campbell healed within six weeks to rejoin the team by Game 4 of the opening series against Nashville as the Hawks went on to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in 49 years.

While Ovechkin is getting a lot of love now, he was once considered one of the dirtiest players in the game. He was also once despised among Blackhawks fans for that cheap hit on Campbell.