Alex Ovechkin scored two times to tie Wayne Gretzky’s listing of 894 NHL occupation objectives on Friday, matching a mark that when appeared unassailable.
With Gretzky in attendance, the 39-year-old Russian delivered No. 894 6:32 into the 3rd quarter to offer his Washington Capitals a 4-3 lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in a sport they’d pass directly to win 5-3.
Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s enormous mark with a power-play target, shedding to 1 knee and lifting his fingers in birthday celebration as the group at Capital One Area roared.
“I am certain everyone loved this second as a result of it is one thing particular,” Ovechkin mentioned in an in-arena interview right away after the sport. “[To] do it at house, in entrance of our enthusiasts, circle of relatives, pals, and clearly win right here as smartly … It is a massive honor.”
Ovechkin additionally skated over and high-fived his son Sergei, with teammates coming onto the ice to congratulate him.
“It method so much,” Ovechkin mentioned. “At the moment it is so emotional. You by no means concept, like, you’ll succeed in that milestone.
“With out all my teammates, all my companions, you guys,” he mentioned with a nod to enthusiasts, “my circle of relatives, my mother, my spouse, you understand? They strengthen, they do the whole thing what I would like.”
Wanting 3 objectives to wreck Gretzky’s enormous mark getting into the competition, he had grabbed quantity 893 simply 3:52 into the sport.
Arrange on the backside of the proper faceoff circle, Ovechkin one-timed a cross from Dylan Strome previous Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight.
“It used to be a excellent flat cross [from Strome] and I were given fortunate,” Ovechkin mentioned in a short lived tv interview all over the primary intermission. “It hit the submit and went in.”
The target gave Ovechkin his 14th 40-goal season, extending his personal listing.
Gretzky used to be in attendance, and Ovechkin mentioned after the primary duration that the presence of the Canadian nice added to an electrical setting at Washington’s Capital One Area.
“Everyone’s humming at the moment,” he mentioned. “Wayne’s right here, so it is a particular second.”
Fanatics have been chanting for Ovechkin ahead of the sport began, and each time he used to be at the ice.
A groan went up within the first duration when a cross supposed for Ovechkin used to be intercepted through a Chicago defender.
Gretzky, sitting in a collection with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, additionally drew cheers from the group.
The Blackhawks, trailing 4-3, pulled their goaltender, however after Ryan Leonard scored into the empty internet to position the Caps up 5-3 Knight returned to his target — and took Ovechkin on.
He stopped two makes an attempt from the Russian for a record-breaking target because the clock wound down, drawing boos from spectators for his bother.
Ovechkin’s subsequent probability to wreck the mark will come Sunday, when the Capitals play on the New York Islanders.
However he did spoil some other listing Friday, his 136th game-winning target breaking the listing he shared with Jaromir Jagr.
