The Washington Capitals are celebrating Alex Ovechkin’s moving into second place on the all-time goals list tonight before their tilt with the Columbus Blue Jackets. As part of the run-up to the celebration, the Capitals released a series of congratulatory videos from Ovi’s peers during the day on Tuesday.
Auston Matthews
Once a fan in the stands to now a fellow Rocket Richard winner, it’s all love from Auston Matthews #Gr802 | @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/Ct2EYvbh5Q
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2023
Patrice Bergeron
Respect from 18 seasons of competing against one another in the East#Gr802 | @NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/W93ParVdRD
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2023
Connor McDavid
Looking forward to the #OviJr version of this video for this guy in the future #Gr802 | @EdmontonOilers pic.twitter.com/ZFQzgGM1OX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2023
Sidney Crosby
All class between two legends#Gr802 | @penguins pic.twitter.com/e9fiuAd8hE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2023
Anze Kopitar, Mark Stone, Elias Petterson, Andre Burakovsky, Erik Karlsson
Respect from the Pacific, courtesy of Anze Kopitar, Mark Stone, Elias Pettersson, Erik Karlsson and Andre Burakovsky#ALLCAPS | #Gr802 pic.twitter.com/Bs473L1x6G
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2023
Aleksander Barkov, Tage Thompson, Brady Tkachuk and Nick Suzuki
Respect from the Atlantic, courtesy of Aleksander Barkov, Tage Thompson, Brady Tkachuk and Nick Suzuki pic.twitter.com/qey1Dg0Xlu
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2023
Johnny Gaudreau, Igor Shesterkin and Kevin Hayes
Respect from the Metro, courtesy of Johnny Gaudreau, Igor Shesterkin and Kevin Hayes pic.twitter.com/trp8gKvrNe
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2023
Prior to Tuesday’s game with Columbus, the Caps will hold a ceremony to honor Ovechkin. Among the dignitaries on hand for the event will be NHLPA director Marty Walsh, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Howe, Gordie’s son and former teammate with the WHA Houston Aeros and New England/Hartford Whalers and the NHL’s Hartford Whalers.
Ovechkin’s teammates will arrive at the arena for Tuesday’s game sporting special Ovi t-shirts, and all will sport a No. 8 sweater for pregame warmups. Those sweaters will then be signed and auctioned off to benefit the Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundation at a later date.
A host of Caps’ season ticket holders will greet players as they enter the arena for the game, and all fans in attendance will receive an Ovechkin goal counter bobble head doll courtesy of Capital One to commemorate the occasion.
During the ceremony itself, Ovechkin will be presented with a number of gifts from the organization, from the League, from the NHLPA and from his teammates as well. Caps’ television play-by-play voice Joe Beninati will emcee the event on the ice, and Ovechkin’s family members and Caps’ majority owner Ted Leonsis and team president Dick Patrick will also be on the ice to join The Great Eight on his special night.