Alex Ovechkin equaled Wayne Gretzky`s NHL record for career goals with two scores against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. He had an opportunity to take the lead with an empty-net goal near the end of the game, but Ovechkin stated he didn`t want to surpass Gretzky in that manner.
Ovechkin`s second goal of the game, which also gave him the record for the most game-winning goals, tied him with Gretzky at 894 career goals. When the Blackhawks removed their goalie, Spencer Knight, late in the third period, Ovechkin chose to stay on the bench.
In a joint press conference with Gretzky, the Washington Capitals captain explained that he preferred not to overtake `The Great One` with an empty-net goal.
`I told him I don`t want an empty net goal,` Ovechkin said. `Everyone keeps asking, and I say, let`s wait.`
The 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 against a goalie.
`He wants to break the record with the goalie in the net, which I respect,` Carbery commented. `He didn`t want to go out… He mentioned it to me on the bench, and I just wanted to double-check he didn`t want to go back out.`
Carbery added that Ovechkin was ready to return to the game once the Capitals secured the win with an empty-net goal.
`When the goalie went back in, he definitely wanted to get back on the ice,` Carbery noted.
The beneficiary of Ovechkin`s decision was Leonard, who was playing in only his third NHL game after joining from Boston College. This former first-round draft pick scored his first career goal on the empty net, and Gretzky presented him with the puck in the locker room.
Ovechkin`s next chance to score goal number 895 will be against the New York Islanders on Sunday. Isles goalie Ilya Sorokin can anticipate a barrage of shots from his fellow countryman.
