Thursday night marked an incredible night for Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom. The 33-year-old Swede is playing his 1,000th career game. He has become the second player in franchise history to play 1,000 games with the Capitals, joining teammate and captain Alex Ovechkin.

Capitals welcome Nicklas Backstrom, who is playing in his 1,000th career game tonight, onto the ice for warmups.

(All Caps players are also wearing No. 19 in warmups) pic.twitter.com/83XNBv2qDE

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) April 15, 2021

The Capitals honored Backstrom as players wore special No. 19 warmup jerseys and held a pre-game ceremony prior to hosting the Buffalo Sabres. Teammates rocked No. 19 sweaters during pregame skate:

just gonna go ahead and call this the greatest on-ice entrance in the history of on-ice entrances#ALLCAPS | #N1KY pic.twitter.com/ewhYgKxzOp

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 15, 2021

The Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation are hosting a special N1KY auction featuring the Backstrom tribute jerseys. The auction opened at 6 PM ET on Thursday at WashCaps.com/N1kyAuction. Proceeds benefit So Kids Can 2020-21 beneficiary Kid Power, Inc. and the Washington Capitals Capital Impact Fund.

Photos: @Capitals

Before puck drop, Backstrom was recognized and presented with a special gift from the organization and Capitals players. Capitals’ general manager Brian MacLellan joined Backstrom’s fiancé Liza and their children Haley, Vince, and Alizee, on the ice for the ceremony.

You are the absolute best, Nicky!

Here’s to many more games.#ALLCAPS | #N1KY pic.twitter.com/sSsITpzIoe

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 15, 2021

“It means a lot and, obviously, to do it with the same team too is very special,” Backstrom said to the media following Wednesday’s practice. “Washington has meant so much to me and to be able to play 1,000 games with this team is going to be a special feeling for sure.”

Not only an amazing player on the ice but an exceptional person off the ice and in our community.#ALLCAPS | #N1KY pic.twitter.com/bn2NikPyh6

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 15, 2021

Nicky by the Numbers

• Backstrom is the second active player to reach the 1,000-game mark with at least 700 career assists (Sidney Crosby).
• Backstrom is the 69th player in NHL history and the 14th active player to play 1,000 career games with one team, and the first Capital to reach the 1,000-game mark in a Capitals sweater since Brooks Orpik on January 14, 2019, against the St. Louis Blues.
• Backstrom, who was selected by the Capitals fourth overall in the 2006 NHL Draft, will become the fourth player from his draft class to reach the 1,000-game mark. He ranks first in the 2006 draft class in both assists (714) and points (971). Backstrom will also become the 14th Swedish-born player to reach 1,000 career games.
• The Capitals hold a record of 592-296-111 with Backstrom in the lineup since his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2007. Backstrom has skated with 165 different teammates, played in 39 different venues, and has played in front of 17,104,313 fans in his career.
• On March 5, 2021, against the Boston Bruins, Backstrom became the second-fastest active player (Crosby: 856 games) and the 23rd fastest player in NHL history to reach the 700-assist mark in his 979^th career game.
• Since his NHL debut in 2007, Backstrom is the only player in the NHL to record at least 700 assists (714) during that span.

NICKY B 1️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

Thank you for sharing 14 seasons of countless memories and celebrations with #ALLCAPS fans.

Tonight we celebrate you, @backstrom19! #N1KY pic.twitter.com/lRVRxWo5K3

— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) April 15, 2021

On January 14, 2020, Backstrom signed a five-year, $46 million contract extension with Washington. During Wednesday’s media call, he expressed his love for the Capitals and fans, “I love the team, I love the city, and I love the fans and everything. It’s important. [I] and my family have fallen in love with the city, so to be able to do that [play entire career with the Capitals], that’s great.”

The first time we laid eyes on him it was love at first sight. 🥰#ALLCAPS | #N1KY pic.twitter.com/p6jVPGOYsd

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 15, 2021

Backstrom is also a Stanley Cup Champion in which he called the 2018 postseason run “a great, great experience,” adding “I think if you look at it too, we’re getting older, but I feel like we’re not done, we’re not satisfied, which is a good thing.”

“It’s obviously a nice milestone, but at the same time, I feel like I have a lot of years left. It’s more about the mentality of ‘Keep going’ and not be satisfied and strive for more. That’s the mindset you have to have or least I have.”

From all of us at NoVa Caps, congratulations Nicklas Backstrom on 1,000 career games! Here’s to many more!

Tonight, we celebrate 14 seasons of #N1KY pic.twitter.com/sN851ZhOtC

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 15, 2021

By Della Young

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