Before a sold out crowd at Captial One Arena, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin helped blow the roof off the building with the first goal of the game and later on what turned out to be the game winner to tie Wayne Gretzky's career goals mark at 894 for the most in NHL history.
How it all went down and what was said
Goal number 893 happened on a snap shot from the front of the net to beat Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight. That was for goal number 893 early into the contest.
Ovechkin's second of the night turned out to be the game winning goal. And with that Ovi is now alongisde Gretzky on the NHL mountaintop for the most goals in NHL history and he could very well break it on Sunday.
"Wayne texted me before the game. He said, 'Score three'. It's a special moment. It's great for hockey, great for DC, great for all our fans to do it here in Washington," said Ovechkin.
Ovechkin could've very well scored three but insisted on staying on the bench when Knight was pulled for the extra attacker. Instead it was Ryan Leonard enjoying his NHL baptism as he notched his first NHL goal in his third career game.
"And at home, too. There's so much celebration for so long in this building, from the fans in this city for him and what he's built here. And I think it goes without saying, his place in Capitals history, and DC history, and DC sports history; I think he is that pillar. And I think that's even more special in somewhat of a familiar place (his office), and also just in front of these fans that were begging for it all night, which was pretty cool to see, the engagement.""John Carlson
Gretzky was in the building and wasn't bitter about seeing his record that stood for 31 years about to go to a new name.
"We always talk about our game, and the players who are in it. From Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, (Mark) Messier, on and on. And we wonder, 'Okay, what's going to happen when those guys retire?' Along came Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Alex has been so great for the city of Washington, he's been so great for the National Hockey League, and he's encouraged so many kids in his home country of Russia to play the sport of hockey. He's been nothing but a champion, and I'm so proud that we're tied. I can live with that for 24 more hours; I can still say I'm tied for the most," said Gretzky.
Ovechkin can pass Gretzky as early as Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. when the Caps take on the New York Islanders on the road. You can catch the game on Monumental Sports Network as well as TNT and MAX.