“Upward to Better Things”: NHL World Reacts as Alexander Ovechkin Set to Be Honored for an Impressive Feat

After being impressed with his stint at Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Superleague, where he played 3 seasons, Washington Capitals capitalized on this up-and-coming talent and brought him during the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. They struck a gold mine. Alexander Ovechkin has been reaping rewards for the Washington-based team since then. And he is still nowhere near sunset years. Amidst the slew of records he has been making for the Capitals, one stands out from the rest. Therefore, the Washington Capitals are to felicitate him for that particular record.

Last year in December, as the Washington Capitals took on the Winnipeg Jets, Ovechkin slipped past their goaltender David Rittich to net two goals. These weren’t just any two goals. They were his goal no. 801 and 802, and in doing so he went past ‘Mr. Hockey’ to be the 2nd highest goalscorer in NHL history. Fans couldn’t control their excitement at this prospect.

This was long overdue for Alex Ovechkin

In a recent Facebook post by ‘Hooked On Hockey Magazine’, they shared a picture that read, “The Capitals will honor Alexander Ovechkin on March 21st, 2023, for passing Gordie Howe in goals”. Gordie Howe, nicknamed ‘Mr. Hockey’, scored his 801st goal in 1980. he was 52 years old and playing for the Hartford Whalers against Detroit Red Wings when he netted his final goal.

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The record stood for a total of 14 years until Wayne Gretzky broke it. In 1994, Gretzky, playing for the Los Angeles Kings then, scored his 802nd goal against the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings lost that match 6-3. Gretzky still holds the record for the highest NHL goals ever, and the enviable 800-goal club only ever had a place for these two greats.

This was until 2022 when Ovechkin joined them. For 28 years, only Gretzky and Howe enjoyed being in that prestigious 800-goal club, but if anybody deserving should’ve joined them, it was Ovechkin.

Ovechkin’s fans truly believe he can go all the way to the top

The capitals won 4-1 against the Jets, in that match, Ovechkin scored his 802nd goal. But more than the victory, it was chants of ‘Ovi, Ovi, Ovi’ that echoes through the stadium. Here’s how fans reacted to the Facebook post:

“wish we lived much closer. That would be awesome. Congratulations Ovie and upward to better things”

“As a penguins fan it’s about damn time. I love sid but ovi is the Gretzky of this generation. Sid is the best overall player but best goal scorer is ovi”

“Going to give him blinking shirt that yells every second he’s on ice Give me the puck. People must put plugs in there ears”

“so the Kid is the Gretzki of his generation…. write off all the Gretzky’s goal and he still # 1!”

“EPIC bring on the celly!”

“Poor ovi by the time he break the record, Washington will be playing their ahl team through a rebuild”

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As of today, Ovechkin has scored 816 goals, with just 78 behind Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. Fans believe he might soon gt there with the way he has been playing.