Along with his two targets on Friday evening in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals celebrity Alexander Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record with 894 goals scored. He had what gave the impression to be a main alternative to interrupt it and turn out to be the NHL’s all-time main goal-scorer within the closing minute when the Blackhawks pulled goalie Spencer Knight for an additional attacker.
However Ovechkin didn’t get the aim empty-net aim, with that honor as a substitute going to rookie Ryan Leonard for his first NHL aim.
That was not an accident, and it was very a lot by design.
Ovechkin merely didn’t need his record-breaking aim to return with no goalie within the web.
Ovechkin: “I inform him I don’t need empty web (for 895)” pic.twitter.com/c3vUYwCzkG
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 5, 2025
On one hand, it is extremely admirable — and never stunning — that Ovechkin needs the file to be damaged in opposition to a goalie. Maybe even on one among his signature one-timers from the circle on the ability play, or some kind of spotlight reel play that shall be remembered.
An empty-net aim would take away among the luster from the second.
Not all of it. However actually a few of it.
Nevertheless it was additionally an ideal alternative to interrupt the file on what would have been a hat-trick aim, and in entrance of the hometown followers in Washington. All of that may have actually made up for the dearth of a goalie.
However that didn’t matter to Ovechkin, who clearly has a imaginative and prescient in thoughts for the way he needs this second to go. If he goes a couple of extra video games this season with out scoring a aim he might change his thoughts on that imaginative and prescient.
Now the Capitals are touring for Sunday’s sport on the New York Islanders, creating the chance for Ovechkin to interrupt the file on the highway. Capitals followers actually don’t care the place he does it, however doing it at house would have actually added one other layer of pleasure to the second.
If he doesn’t break the file on Sunday in opposition to the Islanders, the Capitals will return house on Thursday in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes. Of the Capitals’ six remaining common season video games this season, solely two extra of them are at house.
Adam Gretz is a contract author primarily based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favourite sport — he’s practically midway via his aim of seeing a sport in each MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz
