Alex Ovechkin barely looked at the empty net when he shot the puck into it and set off a wild celebration with his teammates and among Washington Capitals fans.
With a no-look empty-net goal, Ovechkin made more history and moved another step closer to breaking one of hockeyB次元官网网址檚 most hallowed records.
Ovechkin scored goals 801 and 802 Friday night to move into second place on the NHL career list. After beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender David Rittich in the first period to match Gordie Howe, Ovechkin almost reluctantly scored from just inside the blue line with a minute left to pass B次元官网网址淢r. Hockey.B次元官网网址�
Only Wayne Gretzky with 894 has scored more, and Ovechkin is now 93 goals from breaking a record that has long seemed unapproachable.
B次元官网网址淪tep by step, guys,B次元官网网址� Ovechkin said after posing with sons Sergei and Ilya and the milestone pucks. B次元官网网址淪till a long way.B次元官网网址�
While it will take at least a couple more years to see if itB次元官网网址檚 possible for Ovechkin to challenge Gretzky, moving past Howe warranted plenty of celebration. Fans chanted, B次元官网网址淥vi! Ovi! Ovi!B次元官网网址� throughout WashingtonB次元官网网址檚 4-1 win, never louder than after he hit the empty net.
Teammates did the same in the locker room during a closed-door celebration, which followed Jets players lining up to shake OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 hand at centre ice.
"Very emotional. My parents watched it from home. My wife is here, kids here, friends. Doing it with the home crowd, it's special."
B次元官网网址� Washington Capitals (@Capitals)
Alex Ovechkin postgame after moving into second all-time for goals scored in NHL history.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 just to show respect, and itB次元官网网址檚 history for them as well,B次元官网网址� Ovechkin said. B次元官网网址淭he game is the game, but as soon as the whistle blows, itB次元官网网址檚 all about hockey. We respect each other.B次元官网网址�
Ovechkin hit the post on his first shot at the empty net and passed up another attempt by giving the puck to countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov B次元官网网址� and getting it back. Even if he didnB次元官网网址檛 want to make history this way, WashingtonB次元官网网址檚 longtime captain was going to do what it took to ice his teamB次元官网网址檚 fourth consecutive victory.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the kind of situation where if you have a chance to take it, you take it,B次元官网网址� Ovechkin said. B次元官网网址淚 give it to Kuzy and heB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 want to take it.B次元官网网址� But after that, itB次元官网网址檚 special.B次元官网网址�
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Teammates leapt off the bench in celebration and the arena goal counter flipped to 802. A video tribute from HoweB次元官网网址檚 son Mark followed.
B次元官网网址淥n behalf of Gordie Howe, the guy you just passed, and from (my) mother Colleen and the entire Howe family, we just want to congratulate on what a fantastic achievement,B次元官网网址� Mark Howe said in representing his father, who died in 2016 at age 88. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e been a pleasure to watch.B次元官网网址�
Ovechkin made the hockey community watch him chase Howe for more than a week after recording a hat trick to become just the third player with 800 goals. He endured a four-game goal drought before breaking through Friday.
B次元官网网址淎fter the hat trick to get 800, it took a little while to get 801 and 802,B次元官网网址� said center Dylan Strome, who assisted on OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 first goal of the game. B次元官网网址淭o see the puck go in was just relief, IB次元官网网址檓 sure, from everyone.B次元官网网址�
Ovechkin after tying Howe did not look satisfied with stopping at 801. He got a breakaway early in the second period and was denied this time by Rittich B次元官网网址� the 166th different goaltender he has scored on B次元官网网址� and had a few other chances as the game progressed.
With the Capitals leading 3-1 late and Rittich pulled for an extra attacker, fans chanted for Ovechkin to get onto the ice. He and coach Peter Laviolette had discussed not forcing the situation, but when it was OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 turn, he didnB次元官网网址檛 miss his opportunity.
B次元官网网址淭here is something good about what he does offensively when the goalie is out of the net, as well,B次元官网网址� Laviolette said. B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 change anything and it is a pretty special moment, pretty special night.B次元官网网址�
It made it more special for Ovechkin to have wife Nastya and his sons in attendance. Minutes after four-year-old Sergei and 2-year-old Ilya sat on his lap in the locker room, Ovechkin also beamed knowing his parents were watching from their home in Moscow.
B次元官网网址淰ery emotional,B次元官网网址� Ovechkin said. B次元官网网址淒oing it with the home crowd, itB次元官网网址檚 special. They give me full support, and this is pretty big. ItB次元官网网址檚 a historic moment. ItB次元官网网址檚 nice to be in this category of players. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool.B次元官网网址�
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
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