"It feels like winning a championship, doesn't it?" That's what a close buddy of mine texted me less than 24 hours after it still hadn't completely sunk in what Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals had just done. For hockey. For DC. For Russia. For sports. Nobody else has scored more goals in the NHL than the Great Eight.
Alex Ovechkin might not be done yet
According to Capitals team owner Ted Leonsis, who needs to buy Ovi a car and work on that statue now that the record has been broken, Ovechkin turned down multiple interview requests on the national scale to focus on something bigger than a goal number.
Leonsis said on 106.7 The Fan's Grant and Danny:
"Alex was invited on some television shows and The Tonight Show in New York to build his brand, hype, and celebrate. You know what he said? 'I'm exhausted. I want to show respect to the coach and my teammates. I want to rest. I want to get ready for Thursday's game (at home against the Canes) and the sprint of the playoffs. I don't want to have to fly back to New York and come back. Yeah, it might be good for me, but it's time.' And that's what you want from your captain. "Ted Leonsis on Grant and Danny
The Capitals have two home games left in the regular season at Capital One Arena before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. Fans who have tickets to Thursday's home game against the Carolina Hurricanes will be eager to welcome Ovechkin home and celebrate the milestone before the game.
Thursday's game also has a chance to be a revenge game for the Caps after Carolina smoked them just a week prior. That was a 5-1 loss where Ovi, like the Islanders game the other day, scored the game's only goal. The home regular season finale comes off a back to back with the Columbus Blue Jackets where the Caps will be in Ohio on Saturday afternoon and then at COA Sunday.
A year ago the Caps were swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the New York Rangers. By then it was Spencer Carbery's first season coaching behind the bench. Now one year later they are in a totally different position.
The Caps sit entering Tuesday's slate of NHL play with a 49-19-9 record and 107 points. That's not only good for first in the Metropoiltan Divsiion by 11 points but also first in the Eastern Conference. They trail the Winnipeg Jets for tops in the NHL by three points.
One year after being the second wild card team, the Caps will be more than likley facing the second wild card team in the opening round. If the season ended today that's a first round series with the Montreal Canadiens who have a six point lead over the Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
Now that the pressure of 895 is off the team and Ovechkin himself, the Caps can refocus and correct their little mistakes from their recent stretch where they've dropped two of three and gone 5-4-1 over their last 10 games. Presidents' Trophy or not (preferably not), it's important to enter the postseason with positive momentum. It will be a good test for them as they close out the regular season against teams among the Metro Division.