Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin today broke Wayne Gretzky‘s career goals record, scoring his 895th in the second period of a 4-1 loss to the Islanders. The game “came to a halt as Ovechkin’s teammates streamed onto the ice, matching his joy with exhilaration of their own.” Islanders players “shook his hand as the arena prepared for a ceremony, with a carpet emblazoned with ‘Alex Ovechkin’ and ‘895′ placed at center ice." Gretzky, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and Ovechkin’s family “joined him to celebrate the moment” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/6). The game aired on TNT and TruTV in the U.S., and TNT Sports produced an alternative telecast -- “The OviCast” -- featuring an “isolated camera on Ovechkin for the duration of Sunday’s game” (USA TODAY, 4/6).
As of Saturday afternoon, two tickets for the game at UBS Arena for Row 2 of Section 120 in the lower bowl were listed for $10,078 each on StubHub before fees. Tickets in the 300 Sections are “going for as much as” $1,664 and as little as $545 (N.Y. POST, 4/5). The cheapest tickets on the secondary ticket for Sunday’s game were “between $600 and $700 apiece” by Saturday morning (THE ATHLETIC, 4/5).
Ovechkin was at D.C. restaurant Cafe Milano on Friday night to celebrate his 894th goal with family and teammates (POLITICO, 4/5). Ovechkin scored two goals against the Blackhawks on Friday to tie the mark, which he reached in 1,486 career games. Gretzky needed 1,487 to score his 894 (WASHINGTON POST, 4/4).
Friday’s game at Capital One Arena drew 18,573. Ovechkin after scoring to goal that tied the record “skated first to his son Sergei,” seated along the glass. His next stop was “center ice, where he looked up” into Leonsis’ box He “pointed, then waved, then bowed -- the salute” to Gretzky (WASHINGTON POST, 4/4). Gretzky has been “shunning the spotlight since his public support” of President Donald Trump. But he was “greeted warmly” in D.C., “getting a standing ovation during a television timeout in the first period.” Gretzky was seated between Bettman and FBI Dir Kash Patel (THE ATHLETIC, 4/4).
