The main event of the next game day in the National Hockey League (NHL) was the 700th goal in the career of Washington Capitals striker Alexander Ovechkin. The long-awaited puck, which brought the Russians to eighth place in the list of the best scorers of the tournament in its history, was abandoned in the third period of the match with the New Jersey Devils.
The metropolitan team eventually lost 2: 3, but the result receded into the background. According to head coach Todd Rirden, joining his ward in the "Club 700" was a matter of time. He admitted that he was glad not only to witness this event, but also to work side by side with such an outstanding hockey player.
“Alex is a real superstar and by far the best sniper I've ever seen. And who again made history today. All of us who live in the District of Columbia have been incredibly lucky to have seen this player in 41 home games of the year for so many years, ”the NHL official quoted Rirden as saying.
The press service of the league prepared unusual statistics, comparing Ovechkin's achievement with equally outstanding results in other sports popular in North America. The score of 700 goals was equated to 30 thousand points in the National Basketball League (NBA), 600 home runs in Major League Baseball (MLB) and 400 touchdowns in the National Football League (NFL).
Then a peculiar rating of players was compiled. The leader was Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky, who reached this mark at the age of 29 years and 342 days, the second and third place were taken by basketball players LeBron James (33 years and 24 days) and Kobe Bryant (34 years and 104 days), respectively. The “Washington” hockey player is located on the fourth line (34 years 158 days).
The Gr8est Goal Scorer of All Time. # 700vi # ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com / JZSjEITYlo
- Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 22, 2020Emotional congratulations to the captain of Capitals noted the head coach of the Moscow Spartak and former coach of the Russian team Oleg Znarok.
“700 goals in the NHL is cool. Very happy for you. Sasha, I love, I love! God bless you and Gretzky get ahead. You know how to cook yourself. In every season you give out a phenomenal game. You don’t even need my advice, ”the specialist turned to Ovechkin.
Congratulations to the forward were conveyed by other Russian experts and specialists. Well-known coach Andrei Nazarov noted the importance of the Ovechkin figure for all hockey.
“I think a lot of boys grew up on the goals of Ovechkin, on his talent and love for hockey. Sasha is certainly a hero of our time. He is the face of the league, all of world hockey and sports. It is on pillars like him that the NHL holds. On his recognition, hard work and desire to squeeze everything out of himself for the sake of the result, ”Nazarov said.
Having scored his 700th goal, Ovechkin became one step closer to the first line in the list of the best NHL scorers, which Gretzky holds with 894 goals. Despite a serious margin, many expressed confidence that the Russians could surpass the achievement of the legendary Canadian.
“We are proud of Alexander. As I always say, I see him every day. And because of this, you don’t fully realize who you play with. He has every chance of becoming the first number in history, ”said his teammate Evgeni Kuznetsov.
Two-time Olympic champion Igor Larionov also wanted to break the record of Gretzky Ovechkin.
“700 goals are a legendary achievement. I am very glad that you, Sasha, are rewarded for your work. You go up, from year to year for many years showing a high level. I wish to issue 800 goals. And in the same vein! It's great that our Russian guy spends his career in the NHL very brightly. Even brighter than starting! You have been and remain the flagship of Russia in North America, ”said Larionov.
In turn, the striker of the Canadian “Montreal” Ilya Kovalchuk recalled one episode from the beginning of the career of both players.
“Congratulations on your 700th puck. You know, Zhelezyaka, this is just the beginning! Ahead is a lot of hockey, a lot of goals. I wish you to break all records, and we are always there. We experience, support, support. The main thing is without injuries! In general, the first thing that comes to mind is how we met. I was 14 years old, you are 13. And we were at the training camp in Yaroslavl. I consider you a hockey player’s standard, a great example for children, ”Kovalchuk turned to Ovechkin.
Interestingly, Gretzky himself is not at all against breaking his record. He also noted that the Russian has every chance to do this.
“It's hard to do what I did, and it's really hard to do what Ovechkin is doing now. He has a real chance to break the record. Two things are needed for this: to stay healthy, and he proved it throughout his career, and to be in a good team, and he stands for a good team, ”Gretzky said.
A similar position is held by the famous Czech striker Jaromir Jagr, who occupies the third line in the list of the top scorers of the league.
“I scored a lot in the NHL and, when I left to play in Russia, I knew very well that I was unlikely to be able to improve statistics. But now, not only my record, but Gretzky’s record is in danger! But you need them in order to update them. If Ovechkin continues to play in the league and retains a love of the game, he will do it. Alexander has always been a player giving everything for the victory of his team. He is very talented, he is a real role model, ”the Russian Jagr praised.
At the same time, world champion Daniil Markov emphasized that it does not matter whether Ovechkin breaks the Gretzky record, since he has already entered his name in the history of the NHL.
“It will be difficult for him in two years to reach 800 goals. I think he understands his abilities better. Whatever the case, he has already written his name in the history of the NHL for all centuries. This is a great merit and hard work. I am very happy for him, I wish you good luck in the future, ”Sport24 quotes Markov as saying.
Achievement Ovechkin did not leave indifferent representatives of other sports. So, the press service of the Makhachkala "Anji" dedicated a hockey player a post on Twitter, calling him the king, and the organizers of the Russian part of Euro 2020 offered to invite him to the football team.
“Alexander the Great struck 700 goals in the NHL! The perfect reinforcement for the Russian national football team! Capitals, let Ovi go to Euro 2020? ”They joked.
Alexander the Great scored 7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ goals in the NHL!
Perfect boost for @TeamRussia! @Capitals, release Ovi @ ovi8 at # EURO2020? # 700vipic.twitter.com / YoRdkg7rep
Perhaps the most touching congratulation captain "Capitals" received from his parents Tatyana and Mikhail Ovechkin. In an open letter published on the official website of the NHL, they said that they were following each son’s match, thanked his teammates, and also noted the character thanks to which the hockey player achieved such heights.
“We remember your every goal. That's how in childhood, when you played with "Russia". The puck flew through the air, and you hit in the summer. She bounced off the ice and hit the net. It was something! You still stood out for your children sports good anger, the desire for victory. Even when your children's team was inferior, someone was not upset. And you sat on a bench and cried: “How so? We lost...". You had such a passion for hockey, ”the letter says.