Washington Capitals Center Nicklas Backstrom has long been established as one of the franchise’s all-time greatest players and during his NHL career has climbed the ranks of great players that hail from his native country of Sweden. In Sunday night’s game against the Boston Bruins, the former first-round pick continued that climb by tying Daniel Alfredsson on the Assists list by Swedish-born players.

Entering the game, Backstrom had a total of 711 career assists, and during the first and third periods against the Bruins, recorded assists on Capitals goals to move into a tie with Alfredsson for the fourth-most assists by a Swedish-born player.

Backstrom’s first assist of the game came on T.J. Oshie’s first period goal:

Oshbabe cracks it open! pic.twitter.com/JJRiVzcvEO

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 11, 2021

The second helper for the Capitals’ No. 19 came on Oshie’s second goal of the game during the third period:

Had to throw in a lil soccer action tonight too pic.twitter.com/cdbq1Dao2N

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 12, 2021

In addition to tying Alfredsson, Backstrom moved past two other NHL greats in Scott Stevens (a former Capital) and Jean Bealiveau on the NHL Assists list. Backstrom reached the 700-assist mark earlier this season.

Additionally, Backstrom passes Jean Beliveau and Scott Stevens (712a) for the 51st-most assists in NHL history.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 12, 2021

By Michael Fleetwood