The UBS Arena is set to be the battleground for an exhilarating clash between the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders. But it’s not just about the two teams. It’s about one man: Alex Ovechkin, and his record breaking next goal. He’s just one goal shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky and making history as the league leader in career goals. The game could set the scene to a momentous occasion and naturally, that’s reflected monetarily too.

Although there’s no doubt that Caps fans would prefer to see their captain make history on home ice, things could’ve been a lot trickier logistically. After all, the good news for fans is that all things considered, the journey from D.C. to Long Island isn’t the most difficult one to make. Imagine if their next game were to take place on the West Coast!

So it’s no surprise that a quick glance at the ticket prices reveals just how much of an in-demand game this is shaping up to be. Excitement levels are sky-high, as fans are eager to witness and be a part of a history-making moment from the stands. But it isn’t going to come cheap. Looking at the Ticketmaster website, ticket prices are through the roof, and any fan with last-minute game plans will really have to shell out.

The cheapest resale ticket is priced at a whopping $780.45. Even last year’s Stanley Cup finals tickets were going for cheaper, with the least expensive resale ticket costing around $344. So if you didn’t already know, that gives you a clear picture of just how feverish the excitement surrounding Ovechkin’s record chase is. But if you thought that was insane, wait till you hear about the upper limit of ticket prices.

On the other end of the spectrum, the most expensive resale ticket is selling for… drum-roll please… $12,100. That’s right, for anyone desperate enough and with enough cash to burn, you can secure your chance to possibly watch Alex Ovechkin write his name in the record books all for the modest price of twelve thousand one hundred dollars. No big. And if you want to spring for the best seats in the house, that will set you back anywhere between $900-$10,000. Let’s also not forget that these are the prices for one single ticket.

Which is to say that the chance to be a part of history-making doesn’t come cheap, clearly. A standard ticket for a regular game generally runs about $100, but this specific matchup between the Capitals and the Islanders looks to be one for the record books. And if Ovechkin doesn’t break the record in the game? Well, we can expect to see a repeat of these prices for all Caps games until he does.

The stakes are elevated for this NHL matchup, but are you aware of the condition that Alex Ovechkin has set for himself?

To open net or to not open net, that is the question

In just over 24 hours, Alex Ovechkin is poised to etch his name in the history books. With the way he’s going, it seems quite likely that he will find the back of the net against the New York Islanders to seal the deal. Nonetheless, one thing we can count on is no empty netters. Ovechkin explicitly stated this time that there would be no easy opportunity for a goal. What is the reason for that? To put it simply, it’s a matter of pride.

During the game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin showcased his skill by netting two impressive goals. Following those goals, it’s important to note that his teammate Dylan Strome disclosed an interesting exchange that occurred between them. “I asked him about 15 times. I didn’t want to be the guy to shoot it in the empty net if he wanted the empty netter…you don’t want to be the guy to shoot it into the empty net if he’s looking for it to pass, but he made it pretty clear that he didn’t want to get it on an empty netter, and you’ve got to respect his wishes,” remarked the hockey forward regarding his teammate.

It’s something that Ovechkin himself confirmed after the game. “I tell him [Spencer Carbery] I don’t want empty net (for 895).” It’s not hard to understand why—this is a goal that will feature on highlight reels, promotional videos, and all kinds of NHL-related media for years to come. It’s also going to be talked about non-stop. It’s a goal that will carry with it the weight of history; it’s not every day that you surpass the great Wayne Gretzky’s career goals total. It’s a special goal, and an empty netter just won’t cut it.

The entire team appears to be buzzing with anticipation for this moment, and Ovechkin is aiming for a more spectacular finish instead of opting for a cheeky open net goal! Although Wayne Gretzky said, “I’ll take every empty net goal I could get. And I know you would too,” in his joint presser with Ovechkin, it’s clear Ovechkin has a different plan for how it’s all going to go down.

So now the question is, will the next game be the one to end this Gr8 Chase? It’s the question on the minds of every NHL fan and every fan wondering whether to splurge on those pricey tickets. But one thing’s for certain: whether the record is broken in the next game or the one after, you can expect Alex Ovechkin to break it in style.