Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin is now tied with ‘The Great One’ Wayne Gretzky on 894 NHL goals after scoring a stunning brace in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
Ovechkin entered Friday’s game three goals shy of setting a new all-time NHL goal record, and was two behind Gretzky, who scored his final goal on March 29, 1999. Gretzky was in attendance at Capital One Arena to witness the occasion, and also watched on as Ovechkin became the second-oldest player in league history to score 40 goals in a single season.
After Ovechkin scored the opening goal of the game, putting him one away from Gretzky’s record, the Hall of Famer was honored during an intermission as he waved to fans from an executive suite. Gretzky and Ovechkin then locked eyes for several seconds, before the Capitals star ended his reign as the solo-leading NHL goalscorer.
Ovechkin needed just 3:52 to net his first of the night, as Dylan Strome slipped him the puck from behind the net before a powerful one-timer went off the post and in. Washington then fell behind following goals from Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar, before Martin Fehervary tied the game.
Philipp Kurashev then restored Chicago’s lead, but Strome made it 3-3, although everyone inside Capital One Arena thought that Ovechkin had made history. Strome’s shot almost made its way to Ovechkin at the far post, but as the winger reached for the puck it was turned in by Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy.
Less than three minutes later, Ovechkin and the Capitals benefitted from a powerplay as the future Hall of Famer thrashed a powerful shot past Spencer Knight in the Chicago net to make history. The arena then braced themselves for perhaps the most famous hat-trick in NHL history, but it never came.
With minutes remaining in the third period, Ovechkin was through on a breakaway and every fan inside the sold-out arena was on their feet. However, it was well covered by Knight and the dream chance didn’t correlate to the record-breaking goal.
The Blackhawks then pulled the goalie due to trailing 4-3, but while it wasn’t Ovechkin who found the empty net, it was a special moment for Ryan Leonard, who scored his first NHL goal days after arriving from Boston College. Ovechkin now needs just one more goal to move clear of Gretzky, and the Capitals next face the New York Islanders on Sunday.
After Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s record, the Hall of Famer was interviewed from his suite and congratulated the Capitals star. “That’s okay! That’s what it’s all about. He’s been great for the league, great for the Capitals, great for his country,” Gretzky said.
“Very proud of him, proud of what I accomplished. He’s special. Our game just gets better all the time.” Gretzky broke the all-time NHL goal record on Oct. 15, 1989, surpassing the great Gordie Howe who previously topped the list.
Although no one expected Gretzky’s record to ever be broken, including ‘The Great One’ himself, he’s been extremely supportive of Ovechkin’s chase. Gretzky’s mantra is ‘records are there to be broken’ and feels as though it’s a good sign that hockey is constantly improving, and evolving.
Before Ovechkin’s second goal on Friday, Gretzky said: “I’m so proud of the fact that I’m here tonight. The commissioner I talked to the other day, and Alex said don’t come here until I get to two.
“I thought yesterday, ‘Gosh, we better get on the plane and get up there because he might get three tonight.’ When he scored four minutes in I thought, ‘Oh my God, we might be able to leave after the first period.’”
Ovechkin’s pursuit has been made even more impressive after returning from a fractured left fibula, which occurred on Nov. 18 in a game against the Utah Hockey Club. Ovechkin returned to the ice just six weeks later on Dec. 28, and scored in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
