Alex Ovechkin cracked a Bud Mild and casually took a sip as close by followers chanted, “Ovi! Ovi!” He was quickly joined by Wayne Gretzky to place the 2 best goal-scorers in NHL historical past facet by facet.
At this second, they’re tied at 894 objectives apiece after Ovechkin scored twice Friday evening to match Gretzky’s complete that many thought nobody would ever strategy. When Ovechkin was requested his feeling about breaking the report, the “Nice One” had a fantastic retort.
“Properly maintain on a second — he hasn’t performed it but,” Gretzky stated. “Are you able to give me 24 extra hours?”
Gretzky will get at the very least that. Ovechkin’s subsequent likelihood to move Gretzky comes Sunday in a matinee on the New York Islanders.
All eyes will likely be on the 39-year-old Russian celebrity, who soaked within the second of celebrating No. 894 in entrance of Washington Capitals followers who’ve cheered him on for his twenty years within the league and with Gretzky, his mom, spouse and youngsters in attendance. As reflective as Ovechkin was about getting there, he immediately went again to his normal reply when requested about when he may break the report.
“It’s recreation by recreation; it’s shift by shift,” Ovechkin stated. “You by no means know what’s gonna occur. We simply gonna to proceed to get pleasure from it and proceed to do our greatest as a result of we nonetheless have six video games left earlier than playoffs and our thoughts proper now’s prepare for the playoffs and play the appropriate manner within the playoffs.”
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The playoffs are six video games away, however the Capitals first wish to ensure Ovechkin will get the report all to himself.
“There’s a cause we attempt to get it to him: The man’s received 41 objectives,” stated heart Dylan Strome, who arrange Ovechkin’s 893rd aim 4 minutes into the sport towards Chicago. “It’s unimaginable.”
If Ovechkin is unable to attain Sunday on the Islanders, the Capitals subsequent play again at residence Thursday evening towards division-rival Carolina. However everybody across the crew want to get this over with as quickly as potential, one thing Gretzky is aware of from his personal pursuit of Gordie Howe’s then-record of 801 within the spring of 1994.
“Individuals don’t notice this — as a result of I went by way of what Alex goes by way of — it’s laborious in your teammates, too,” Gretzky stated. “It’s joyful and it’s thrilling, however they really feel the stress and the stress and so they should reply all of the questions, additionally.”
After Ovechkin tied Gretzky, they had been very happy to reply the questions. They might really feel the anticipation constructing towards Ovechkin — the 2018 playoff MVP in main the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship — doing one thing else particular.
“I believe the previous couple of video games you could possibly sense it slightly bit, however clearly on residence ice inside one thing extraordinarily doable for the man, it felt completely different the entire evening,” stated longtime teammate John Carlson, who handed the puck to Ovechkin for No. 894. “From warmups, from the drop of the puck, some guys are bigger than life in that regard and it simply looks like just a few persons are able to it. It appeared inevitable.”
Inevitable till he breaks it, as effectively. As Gretzky received as much as go away the postgame festivities, he hugged Ovechkin and waved and stated, “See you guys on Sunday.”
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