HIGHLIGHTS
- Sidney Crosby had huge praise for Alex Ovechkin after tying Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record
- Ovi is just one goal away from being the all-time leader
- Keep reading to see Crosby’s full comments
At age 39, Alex Ovechkin is still dominating for the Washington Capitals. He’s also on the brink of history as the legend tied Wayne Gretzky for the all-time scoring lead in NHL history, netting No. 894 on Friday night.
Ovi has six games to score No. 895, and it’s almost a foregone conclusion he’ll become the new leader, with his first chance coming on Sunday against the New York Islanders. Following Friday’s two-goal game, fellow icon Sidney Crosby gave his take on Ovechkin’s chase for the record.
“It was pretty exciting,” Crosby said Saturday. “Just that last couple of minutes, when he kept pushing, trying to get that next one. I think for anyone who is a fan of the game and appreciates what he’s doing, it’s pretty cool to see. I thought he was going to get it before the end of that (game). It was just a matter of time the last couple of years. Especially — what he’s done this year is pretty incredible. At this point it’s just a matter of time.”
Both Alex Ovechkin and Crosby came into the league in 2005. They’ve had tons of epic battles over the years and seen firsthand how special one another is. Sid the Kid is a franchise legend for the Pittsburgh Penguins, while Ovi is an icon for the Washington Capitals. Both players have only played for one organization in their respective careers.
Everyone is cheering on Ovechkin in his pursuit of No. 1 on the goal-scoring list. Gretzky himself has been in attendance to watch the Russian superstar play.
Ovi had the opportunity for No. 895 on Friday, but he refused to go on the ice and score into an empty net. He wants to break the record with a netminder in the crease.
Classic Ovechkin. The ultimate competitor.
