On the night the Washington Capitals honored alternate captain and franchise cornerstone Nicklas Backstrom for reaching 1,000 career points, the team’s 2006 first-round pick scored, resulting in one of the most memorable nights at Capital One Arena.
Having become just the second player in franchise history (his longtime running mate Alex Ovechkin being the other) to reach the 1,000-point milestone with the Caps, Backstrom scored his sixth goal of the 2021-22 season against New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Dawes, assisted by Anthony Mantha.
The man of the night! pic.twitter.com/cTWEQlBh8Q
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 27, 2022
Prior to the game, fans were given foam apples adorned with the “N1Ky” logo in commemoration of the night’s occasion. Upon Backstrom’s lighting the lamp, the Capital One Arena crowd sent thousands of those apples (a play on Backstrom’s status as the franchise’s all-time Assists leader) onto the ice.
On the night the @Capitals honored Nicklas Backstrom for 1k career points, fans are LITTERING the ice with apples after a Backstrom goal 🤣🍎 pic.twitter.com/5MIOYZmQ6u
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 27, 2022
Players from both teams assisted arena staff in clearing the ice of the apples, halting play for a few minutes.
this. this is the one. pic.twitter.com/ByGyIIMS9s
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 27, 2022
The Caps gave out apples in honour of Nicklas Backstrom’s 1,000th point 🍎
Here’s what happened when he scored…pic.twitter.com/FRqCVSsOoN
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) March 27, 2022
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 27, 2022
Backstrom recorded two points (a goal and assist) to tie Lanny MacDonald for 91st in NHL history with 1,006 points, per NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti.
Nicklas Backstrom has two points tonight (1G, 1A) to tie Lanny McDonald for 91st in NHL history with 1,006 points.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) March 27, 2022
Possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever seen at a hockey game: Backstrom scores, giveaway apples rain down. #N1KY #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/VvnphduaJf
— Sarah Heffern (@smheffern) March 27, 2022
Backstrom was honored prior to the first puck drop, with his family (including fiancee Liza, three children, and parents and brother) in attendance as his teammates and Capitals management presented him with mementos to honor his historic milestone. He was named First Star of the Game following the Caps’ 4-3
we love you too, nicky ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GT2nJQclpQ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 27, 2022
Since his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2007, Backstrom ranks fifth in the NHL in points (Alex Ovechkin: 1,200; Sidney Crosby: 1,169; Patrick Kane: 1,166; Evgeni Malkin: 1,047).
osh making it REAL dusty in here pic.twitter.com/WxR2awraxO
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 27, 2022
By Michael Fleetwood
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