Neither will Gretzky, who together with Ovechkin is the league’s co-leading goal-scorer in the intervening time.
“I can live with that for 24 more hours,” Gretzky mentioned. “I can still say I’m tied for the most.”
Ovechkin scored No. 894 from his spot within the left faceoff circle on the ability play on a cross from longtime teammate John Carlson with 13:47 left within the third interval. The aim — his forty first of the season and record-setting 136th game-winner to interrupt a tie with Jaromir Jagr — brought about teammates to spill off the bench and mob Ovechkin within the nook of the rink.
“We kind of looked at each other just and said, ‘Screw it, I’m going,’” winger Tom Wilson mentioned. “It was just so cool to be a part of it as a group.”
Ovechkin’s aim music, “Shake, Rattle & Roll” by Large Joe Turner,” blared from the audio system, and mascot Slapshot flipped the counter in a single nook from 893 to 894 as followers rose to their toes and stayed there to applaud the accomplishment. The 39-year-old who has spent his total profession with Washington skated circles round middle ice to implore for extra, in between his emotional moments paying tribute to Gretzky and his household.
“That was awesome,” mentioned middle Dylan Strome, who arrange Ovechkin’s 893rd aim. “Like, you’re left speechless and they still got to play the game and try to find him for one more.”
Amazingly, Ovechkin nearly received one other one. He had probabilities within the closing 10 minutes and both missed the web or was denied by Spencer Knight, one in all a document 182 totally different goaltenders he has scored on throughout his profession.
“I just guess I’m glad he didn’t get the last one,” Knight mentioned. “But, yeah, it’s cool to see, it’s great for the sport.”
A technique Ovechkin refused to get No. 895 was into an empty internet. He informed coach Spencer Carbery and others he wished no a part of passing Gretzky like that.
“He wants to break the record with a goaltender in the crease, which I appreciate,” Carbery mentioned. “He told me that on the bench, and I just wanted to confirm that he didn’t want to go out. And it’s hard for us as coaches because I just wanted to make sure in that moment: hat trick, at home. And he didn’t want to go out and score on an empty net to break the record. We have six games left, and he wants to break the record and have that moment where he’s shooting the puck past a goalie.”
Afterward, Blackhawks gamers stayed on the ice to do a handshake line with Ovechkin, who will get his subsequent likelihood to interrupt the document Sunday on the New York Islanders.
“Obviously very classy by the Hawks organization what they did tonight for ‘O’ and it’s as good as it gets,” Wilson mentioned. “We have more to look forward to hopefully, but this was an incredible night.”
