ST. PAUL, Minn. — Alex Ovechkin did not rating for Washington, staying at 889 profession targets and 6 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time report.
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Ovechkin did provoke a memorable second on the ice in Minnesota on Thursday night time, although.
The three-time NHL MVP, who has been within the highlight for months amid his pursuit of Gretzky’s profession aim mark, hustled over towards the tunnel behind the bench after the horn sounded on Washington’s 4-2 loss to verify the entire Capitals got here again on the ice to shake fingers with retiring Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Ovechkin was the primary to greet Fleury at mid-ice as they shared a hug and fun.
Fleury, who’s in his twenty first and assuredly ultimate season within the league, was on the house bench all night time whereas Filip Gustavsson manned the online.
Ovechkin talked about to the workforce within the morning that it could be the final matchup in opposition to Fleury, who confronted Ovechkin and the Capitals incessantly over the primary 13 seasons of his profession with Pittsburgh. Ovechkin had 28 targets in 47 video games in opposition to Fleury, his most in opposition to any goalie.
“He’s had so many battles with the Caps, with ‘O,’” Washington coach Spencer Carbery stated. “Pretty classy to be able to send him off and just say how impressive a career he had.”
Capitals center Dylan Strome played briefly with Fleury in Chicago.
“Everyone knows he’s one of the best people of all time in the game, so the little respect we can show him at the end of the game I think goes a long way,” Strome said.
The Wild were impressed by the gesture, even if they weren’t surprised.
“Every team we go to, you see the signs. Everyone loves him, and everyone loves playing against him,” Gustavsson said. “I think no one really would say anything bad about him.”
At some point soon, the Wild will likely find themselves doing their own internal tribute.
“It’s awesome to see. It’s fun for him, and I am happy for him,” defenseman Jonas Brodin said. “He’s a fantastic individual and the most effective I’ve ever performed with, so it’s fairly cool. It’s particular to have that whenever you stop hockey sometime, that you simply performed with that man, for certain.”
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