Washington Classic: Nicklas Backstrom Picks Up Primary Assist on Alex Ovechkin Goal in 900th Game Together

The Capitals’ Saturday night contest against the New Jersey Devils in Newark marked the 900th game that Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom have played together, and in that span, the two have become the best 1-2 punch in franchise history. Over the years, Backstrom and Ovechkin have teamed up to light the lamp for the Caps time and time again, and in their 900th game with one another, history repeated itself once again.

With the Capitals down 1-0 late in the first period, Backstrom carried the puck into the offensive zone before dropping the puck back to a trailing Ovechkin, who fired the puck past New Jersey netminder Mackenzie Blackwood to tie the game at 1-1. Tom Wilson was also credited with the secondary assist on the goal.

Heading into the game, Backstrom had assisted on 37.4% of Ovechkin’s 679 goals, a number that now increases to 37.5% on Ovechkin’s now 680 career goals, more than twice the next closet, defenseman John Carlson. The goal pulled Ovechkin within five of passing Teemu Selanne for 11th all-time.

Backstrom also added a goal shortly before the end of the opening frame, putting him two points shy of 900 for his career, with two periods left to play. Wilson and Carlson were credited with the assists on the goal.

By Michael Fleetwood