Matt Weyrich/@ByMattWeyrich
December 23, 2022. A night that will forever be etched into NHL history, the history of the Washington Capitals, and in the minds of all Caps fans in attendance at Capital One Arena. The date marks the day in history that Alexander Ovechkin became the NHL’s second-highest goal-scorer in the history of the league.
The celebration began before the team left the ice, as the Winnipeg Jets, who had just suffered a 4-1 loss at the hands of Ovechkin and the Capitals, remained on the ice to shake The Great Eight’s hand in a gesture of sportsmanship and an acknowledgement of the history witnessed by all.
Winnipeg Jets pay respect to Alex Ovechkin after the game. Awesome. pic.twitter.com/SWS4XmmDot
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 24, 2022
Ovechkin spoke with NBC Sports Washington’s Al Koken after being named the First Star of the Game, and took the opportunity to thank not only the fans, but also his family, including his wife Nastya and children, but his mother Tatyana, father Mikhail, and brother Mikhail.
What does Alex Ovechkin have to say after moving into second place all-time on the NHL goals list?
“It’s nice to get it done at home…family, our friends, obviously fans. It’s a great feeling.” 😍🙌 pic.twitter.com/Vspf4sFQdF
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 24, 2022
Koken, who has been covering the team for nearly 40 years, was the first person to interview Ovechkin after the Capitals drafted him first overall in 2004.
.@RealSmokinAl was the first person to interview Alex Ovechkin after the Capitals drafted him.
Now, he reflects back as the Great 8 moves into second on the NHL’s all-time scoring list. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gEIxMuZFjA
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 24, 2022
Inside the locker room Alex was honored by his coaches and teammates, with Head Coach Peter Laviolette taking a moment to recognize his captain’s achievement.
Ovi to his teammates after scoring No. 802: “I love you guys. Thank you.” pic.twitter.com/2Zaidm3HhQ
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 24, 2022
"I love you, guys." 🥹#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/yRwDqt9ti7
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 24, 2022
Conor Sheary and Dylan Strome, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, assisted on the tying and record-breaking goals, respectively, and posed with their teammate after the game to mark their roles in the milestones.
Ovechkin was joined in the locker room by his two sons, Sergei (4) and Ilya (2), who posed for a picture with their dad with the two history-making pucks.
The Ovechkins holding the historic pucks pic.twitter.com/GI1qzgPuh4
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) December 24, 2022
Ovechkin scored his 800th career goal last week against the Chicago Blackhawks and tied Howe in the first period of tonight’s game. Ovechkin became the first player other than Howe and Wayne Gretzky (who is the only player with more goals – 894 – than the Caps’ first overall pick in 2004) to hold either first or second in Goals Scored since 1991, when Gretzky became second all-time on December 21; 31 years and two days to the day Ovechkin surpassed Howe.
Jets players postgame talked about how Ovi was not just a generational player (they watched him as kids) but also such a great personality and ambassador for the sport. Coach and players all said that the handshaking line, showing respect was the right thing to do. Classy.
Morrissey was wearing Oshie’s Warroad gear.
It really helps shed light on big the times are. Not that we needed a reminder, but seeing the Jets players lineup after game and the great fans in Chicago, the whole hockey world is starting to realize what’s going on. We
Ovi’s been huge for the game, not just in DC, but world wide.
It’s so cool his sons were there. Hopefully they are old enough to remember.