Alright NHL junkies, this ain’t just another game day. We’re talking Washington Capitals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, and while every Caps game these days comes with a side of Alexander Ovechkin Record Watch, something spicier is brewing. Lightning coach Jon Cooper just sent a message ahead of the game—and let’s just say, fans are probably having a laugh.

Stephen Whyno the NHL writer for AP News, dropped this absolute banger courtesy of Cooper on X: “Alex Ovechkin is 12 goals from passing Wayne Gretzky. The Capitals play the Lightning this afternoon. Lightning coach Jon Cooper: ‘If he breaks the record tonight, then we did something wrong.'”

Let’s break that down. Alex Ovechkin is 12 goals away from doing the unthinkable—surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s 894-goal record. That’s NHL immortality territory. And of course Jon Cooper could only see the humor in the situation after the fact was pointed out to him.

The Caps are rolling into their game against Tampa fresh off a pretty painful 5-2 smackdown from the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, and a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames earlier in the week. Not exactly the vibes you want when facing a team like the Lightning, but Cooper is sure to be sensing the opportunity the Lightning have here, hence his mirthful response.

First period recap — Tampa in control

Now that we’ve talked puns and jokes, the real thing is on. Capitals vs Lightning is in full force, and the first period is in the books. Tampa Bay holds a 1-0 lead over Washington. The lone goal came from Mitchell Chaffee, who found the net just 2:49 into the game.

Ovechkin was active but frustrated through the period. His first shot was blocked by Luke Glendening just seconds into the game, and his next attempt—a classic Alex Ovechkin slap shot—was turned aside by Andrei Vasilevskiy. He even missed high over the crossbar on a promising snap shot a couple minutes later. Add in a giveaway from Ovechkin at 6:24, and it’s safe to say Tampa’s defense came prepared.

If you’ve followed Capitals vs. Lightning history, you know these games tend to get nasty, and tonight’s no exception. Alex Ovechkin has already thrown a hit on Ryan McDonagh, while Gage Goncalves returned the favor, leveling Ovechkin in open ice. There were 11 face-offs involving Ovechkin’s line in the first period alone, with both teams fighting for every inch.

The big question hanging over this game: Can Ovechkin find a way to score and inch closer to Gretzky’s mark? Or did Jon Cooper’s message sink in so hard that Tampa’s entire game plan revolves around smothering #8? Based on the first period, Cooper’s crew looks locked in—but Ovi is rarely quiet for long.

As the game unfolds, every Alex Ovechkin shift becomes must-watch hockey. Whether he scores tonight or not, this chase for 895 is the biggest storyline in the NHL, and Jon Cooper knows it. Tampa might be up 1-0 now, but if The Great 8 gets the puck in his office, that lead could vanish in a hurry. Stay tuned—this one’s only getting started.