Alex Ovechkin equaled Wayne Gretzky`s NHL record of all-time goals with two scores against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. He had a chance for a hat trick and his 895th goal with an empty net late in the game, but Ovechkin stated he preferred not to overtake Gretzky in that manner.
Ovechkin`s second goal of the game, which also gave him the most game-winning goals ever, tied him with Gretzky at 894 career goals. When the Blackhawks removed their goalie, Spencer Knight, in the final period, Ovechkin chose to stay on the bench.
In a joint press conference with Gretzky, the Washington Capitals captain explained his decision, saying he didn`t want to surpass `The Great One` with an empty-net goal.
`I told him I don`t want an empty net goal,` Ovechkin said. `Everyone asks me, and I say, let`s wait.`
Capitals broadcast showed Ovechkin seemingly declining to go on the ice when prompted by coach Spencer Carbery with less than two minutes remaining. Carbery confirmed that Ovechkin wants to break the record by scoring on a goalie.
`He wants to break the record with the goaltender in the net, which I respect,` Carbery mentioned. `He didn`t want to go out… He told me that on the bench, and I just wanted to confirm he didn’t want to go back out.`
Carbery added that Ovechkin was ready to return to the game as soon as the Capitals secured the win with an empty-net goal scored by another player.
`When the goalie returned, he definitely wanted to get back on the ice,` Carbery stated.
The beneficiary of Ovechkin`s decision was Leonard, who was playing only his third NHL game after recently signing from Boston College. The former first-round pick scored his first career goal on the empty net, and Gretzky gifted him the puck in the locker room.
Ovechkin`s next opportunity to score goal No. 895 will be against the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon. Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin can anticipate a barrage of shots from his fellow countryman in that game.
