With his two goals on Friday night in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record with 894 goals scored. He had what seemed to be a prime opportunity to break it and become the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer in the final minute when the Blackhawks pulled goalie Spencer Knight for an extra attacker.
But Ovechkin did not get the goal empty-net goal, with that honor instead going to rookie Ryan Leonard for his first NHL goal.
That was not an accident, and it was very much by design.
Ovechkin simply did not want his record-breaking goal to come without a goalie in the net.
On one hand, it is very admirable — and not surprising — that Ovechkin wants the record to be broken against a goalie. Perhaps even on one of his signature one-timers from the circle on the power play, or some sort of highlight reel play that will be remembered.
An empty-net goal would take away some of the luster from the moment.
Not all of it. But certainly some of it.
But it was also a perfect opportunity to break the record on what would have been a hat-trick goal, and in front of the hometown fans in Washington. All of that would have certainly made up for the lack of a goalie.
But that did not matter to Ovechkin, who clearly has a vision in mind for how he wants this moment to go. If he goes a few more games this season without scoring a goal he may change his mind on that vision.
Now the Capitals are going on the road for Sunday’s game at the New York Islanders, creating the opportunity for Ovechkin to break the record on the road. Capitals fans certainly do not care where he does it, but doing it at home would have certainly added another layer of excitement to the moment.
If he does not break the record on Sunday against the Islanders, the Capitals will return home on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Of the Capitals’ six remaining regular season games this season, only two more of them are at home.
