Latest news with #GR8Chase
Fox Sports
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Alex Ovechkin has the NHL career goals record. Now the Capitals want to get ready for the playoffs
Associated Press ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin finished practice by replicating his belly-flop celebration from scoring the record-breaking 895th goal of his NHL career, delighting the 895 schoolchildren and other Washington Capitals fans in attendance. The previous 45 minutes — and the next several days — are all about getting back to work. Ovechkin and the Capitals got back on the ice Wednesday, 72 hours after he broke Wayne Gretzky's record to end the 'GR8 Chase' and set in motion several nights of celebrations. They had such a comfortable lead atop their division and the Eastern Conference that the past month has been all about getting Ovechkin the record, but that coincided with a dip in play that can't continue with the playoffs fast approaching. 'Guys, whether they want to admit it or not, and whether I want to admit it and acknowledge it or not, as much as I want to block it out, as much as I want to say, 'No, we're strictly focused on the Winnipeg Jets, the Minnesota Wild,' whatever the opponent was — it's impossible to block the record and what was going on inside of the games out,' coach Spencer Carbery said. 'That's going to be our biggest challenge coming off of such a unique, thrilling experience celebrating that achievement and now having to completely reset mentally and focus on the task at hand of playing well as a team and making sure that we're putting ourselves in the best position possible to play well in the playoffs." Washington was the league's first team to clinch a playoff berth this season, wrapped up first in the Metropolitan Division with Carolina's loss Tuesday night and is close to shoring up home-ice advantage until at least the Stanley Cup Final. But that is thanks more to what the team did in the first five-plus months of the season than recent weeks. The Capitals ranked second in the NHL in goals allowed through 64 games, giving up an average of 2.54. Over the past 13, they're 24th at 3.38 a game. 'We just need to be really sharp in our details,' defenseman Martin Fehervary said. 'I think that's a key: Don't give up too many chances. We obviously can score the goals, but we need to be sharper in our D-zone.' Goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who's shouldering the starting load with Logan Thompson injured, criticized himself for allowing so many goals. But so many of them came because of chaos in front of him, opposing odd-man rushes and a series of other mistakes by the skaters in front of him. It's not a coincidence they've lost five of their past seven games. 'Our team game slid a little bit,' veteran defenseman John Carlson said. 'It's a good point of the year where we can refocus ourselves and what we know it's going to take. And whatever you want to say, I'm not blaming it on what we've been through and what we're striving for, too, but I think everybody in here is smart enough to know that we've got to play a better brand of hockey.' Going all out to help Ovechkin, the longtime captain and face of the franchise, break what was considered one of hockey's more untouchable records was more than understandable. Gretzky's mark had stood for 31 years since he passed Gordie Howe, and 17 Capitals players were not alive when that happened. But Washington also has not won a playoff series since hoisting the Cup in 2018, and making a long run this spring is the next goal after 895. ''O' even said it right after he scored that goal that the big games are still to come this year, and we've got a special group and you don't want to waste years like this when things are going well,' defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. 'It happened at a perfect time to a perfect guy, and now we have time to kind of refocus. I think our last few games definitely haven't been our best, so it's a nice time to kind of reset, focus and get dialed in before playoffs are here.' After being in the spotlight for an individual achievement, Ovechkin is ready to get back to being team-first and winning. 'All that's happened during the year is one thing, but in the playoffs it's a total different season,' Ovechkin said. 'It's a total different energy level, pace. So, yeah, I think right now we have five games left and we just have to prepare for that time of year and we have to understand how we have to play.' ___ AP NHL: recommended
Associated Press
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Alex Ovechkin has the NHL career goals record. Now the Capitals want to get ready for the playoffs
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin finished practice by replicating his belly-flop celebration from scoring the record-breaking 895th goal of his NHL career, delighting the 895 schoolchildren and other Washington Capitals fans in attendance. The previous 45 minutes — and the next several days — are all about getting back to work. Ovechkin and the Capitals got back on the ice Wednesday, 72 hours after he broke Wayne Gretzky's record to end the 'GR8 Chase' and set in motion several nights of celebrations. They had such a comfortable lead atop their division and the Eastern Conference that the past month has been all about getting Ovechkin the record, but that coincided with a dip in play that can't continue with the playoffs fast approaching. 'Guys, whether they want to admit it or not, and whether I want to admit it and acknowledge it or not, as much as I want to block it out, as much as I want to say, 'No, we're strictly focused on the Winnipeg Jets, the Minnesota Wild,' whatever the opponent was — it's impossible to block the record and what was going on inside of the games out,' coach Spencer Carbery said. 'That's going to be our biggest challenge coming off of such a unique, thrilling experience celebrating that achievement and now having to completely reset mentally and focus on the task at hand of playing well as a team and making sure that we're putting ourselves in the best position possible to play well in the playoffs.' Washington was the league's first team to clinch a playoff berth this season, wrapped up first in the Metropolitan Division with Carolina's loss Tuesday night and is close to shoring up home-ice advantage until at least the Stanley Cup Final. But that is thanks more to what the team did in the first five-plus months of the season than recent weeks. The Capitals ranked second in the NHL in goals allowed through 64 games, giving up an average of 2.54. Over the past 13, they're 24th at 3.38 a game. 'We just need to be really sharp in our details,' defenseman Martin Fehervary said. 'I think that's a key: Don't give up too many chances. We obviously can score the goals, but we need to be sharper in our D-zone.' Goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who's shouldering the starting load with Logan Thompson injured, criticized himself for allowing so many goals. But so many of them came because of chaos in front of him, opposing odd-man rushes and a series of other mistakes by the skaters in front of him. It's not a coincidence they've lost five of their past seven games. 'Our team game slid a little bit,' veteran defenseman John Carlson said. 'It's a good point of the year where we can refocus ourselves and what we know it's going to take. And whatever you want to say, I'm not blaming it on what we've been through and what we're striving for, too, but I think everybody in here is smart enough to know that we've got to play a better brand of hockey.' Going all out to help Ovechkin, the longtime captain and face of the franchise, break what was considered one of hockey's more untouchable records was more than understandable. Gretzky's mark had stood for 31 years since he passed Gordie Howe, and 17 Capitals players were not alive when that happened. But Washington also has not won a playoff series since hoisting the Cup in 2018, and making a long run this spring is the next goal after 895. ''O' even said it right after he scored that goal that the big games are still to come this year, and we've got a special group and you don't want to waste years like this when things are going well,' defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. 'It happened at a perfect time to a perfect guy, and now we have time to kind of refocus. I think our last few games definitely haven't been our best, so it's a nice time to kind of reset, focus and get dialed in before playoffs are here.' After being in the spotlight for an individual achievement, Ovechkin is ready to get back to being team-first and winning. 'All that's happened during the year is one thing, but in the playoffs it's a total different season,' Ovechkin said. 'It's a total different energy level, pace. So, yeah, I think right now we have five games left and we just have to prepare for that time of year and we have to understand how we have to play.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alex Ovechkin has the NHL career goals record. Now the Capitals want to get ready for the playoffs
Alex Ovechkin has the NHL career goals record. Now the Capitals want to get ready for the playoffs Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring against New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring his 895th career goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring against New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring against New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring against New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring his 895th career goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring against New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin finished practice by replicating his belly-flop celebration from scoring the record-breaking 895th goal of his NHL career, delighting the 895 schoolchildren and other Washington Capitals fans in attendance. The previous 45 minutes — and the next several days — are all about getting back to work. Advertisement Ovechkin and the Capitals got back on the ice Wednesday, 72 hours after he broke Wayne Gretzky's record to end the 'GR8 Chase' and set in motion several nights of celebrations. They had such a comfortable lead atop their division and the Eastern Conference that the past month has been all about getting Ovechkin the record, but that coincided with a dip in play that can't continue with the playoffs fast approaching. 'Guys, whether they want to admit it or not, and whether I want to admit it and acknowledge it or not, as much as I want to block it out, as much as I want to say, 'No, we're strictly focused on the Winnipeg Jets, the Minnesota Wild,' whatever the opponent was — it's impossible to block the record and what was going on inside of the games out,' coach Spencer Carbery said. 'That's going to be our biggest challenge coming off of such a unique, thrilling experience celebrating that achievement and now having to completely reset mentally and focus on the task at hand of playing well as a team and making sure that we're putting ourselves in the best position possible to play well in the playoffs." Washington was the league's first team to clinch a playoff berth this season, wrapped up first in the Metropolitan Division with Carolina's loss Tuesday night and is close to shoring up home-ice advantage until at least the Stanley Cup Final. But that is thanks more to what the team did in the first five-plus months of the season than recent weeks. Advertisement The Capitals ranked second in the NHL in goals allowed through 64 games, giving up an average of 2.54. Over the past 13, they're 24th at 3.38 a game. 'We just need to be really sharp in our details,' defenseman Martin Fehervary said. 'I think that's a key: Don't give up too many chances. We obviously can score the goals, but we need to be sharper in our D-zone.' Goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who's shouldering the starting load with Logan Thompson injured, criticized himself for allowing so many goals. But so many of them came because of chaos in front of him, opposing odd-man rushes and a series of other mistakes by the skaters in front of him. It's not a coincidence they've lost five of their past seven games. Advertisement 'Our team game slid little bit,' veteran defenseman John Carlson said. 'It's a good point of the year where we can refocus ourselves and what we know it's going to take. And whatever you want to say, I'm not blaming it on what we've been through and what we're striving for, too, but I think everybody in here is smart enough to know that we've got to play a better brand of hockey.' Going all out to help Ovechkin, the longtime captain and face of the franchise, break what was considered one of hockey's more untouchable records was more than understandable. Gretzky's mark had stood for 31 years since he passed Gordie Howe, and 17 Capitals players were not alive when that happened. But Washington also has not won a playoff series since hoisting the Cup in 2018, and making a long run this spring is the next goal after 895. ''O' even said it right after he scored that goal that the big games are still to come this year, and we've got a special group and you don't want to waste years like this when things are going well,' defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. Advertisement 'It happened at a perfect time to a perfect guy, and now we have time to kind of refocus. I think our last few games definitely haven't been our best, so it's a nice time to kind of reset, focus and get dialed in before playoffs are here.' After being in the spotlight for an individual achievement, Ovechkin is ready to get back to being team-first and winning. 'All that's happened during the year is one thing, but in the playoffs it's a total different season,' Ovechkin said. 'It's a total different energy level, pace. So, yeah, I think right now we have five games left and we just have to prepare for that time of year and we have to understand how we have to play.' ___ AP NHL:
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky's record brings joy to hockey and beyond sports
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Ovechkin could not contain his happiness moments after scoring his 895th goal to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL record and etch his name into the history books. 'We did it!' he told teammates in an electric visiting arena with over 17,000 fans locked in on his every move. "It's history! Yeah!' Ovechkin celebrated No. 895 with the same joy he oozed after so many of his first 894, bellyflopping onto the ice like he did into fountains in Washington when he and the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018. That was the high-water mark for the franchise earning its first championship, but this stuck out in a different way. The Cup gets handed out once a year. Ovechkin broke a record that stood for more than three decades, with the chance for his reign to last even longer. At a time of the season in a team-centric sport that is usually reserved only for playoff races, Ovechkin's 'GR8 Chase' captivated the hockey community and brought joy not only to the sport but the rest of the world eager to witness something special. 'It's a testament to Ovi,' said center Dylan Strome, who along with Tom Wilson had the assists on Ovechkin's record-breaker Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. 'Everyone wants to see him succeed because he's such a happy guy. It doesn't matter if he scores a goal or someone else scores a goal: He's just as happy. And I think that's a credit to him and his character, and you could see why other people are so happy for him because of the way he treats other people.' The charismatic Russian superstar has made a career out of scoring like no one else and commemorating the moment even better. Whether it was jumping into the glass or mimicking that his stick was on fire, Ovechkin became one of the faces of the game for how he always acted like a little kid playing a grown-up sport. "You just smile every time you see it," coach Spencer Carbery said, echoing Strome about Ovechkin being just as happy to see his teammates score. 'It speaks to him, but also who he is as a captain and as a leader, of the happiness and joy that he has to win and to see others have success and others to score goals, as well.' No team or goaltender wanted to be the one to give up No. 895, but the Islanders — and netminder Ilya Sorokin, specifically, giving Ovechkin his stick when asked — still had full appreciation of the moment they were a part of. 'No matter what team you were cheering for tonight, everyone was a hockey fan," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. 'Everyone on our side and their side can appreciate Ovi's accomplishment." The run-up to the accomplishment was half the fun. Goal-counters from Washington to Moscow tracked the quest. Ticket prices surged and subsided based on how close Ovechkin was to catching and passing Gretzky. If the pressure was mounting on Ovechkin at 39 in the twilight of his career, he sure didn't show it. And the Capitals made it their life's work to get him the record. It finally came midway through the 77th game out of 82, bringing relief to everyone involved. 'Over the last couple of weeks, it has now turned into he's right there,' Carbery said. 'And for us, especially as coaches, we go to the hundreds and hundreds of hours that we've been trying to figure out ways to get him the next goal. (When) you've been working 80-hour weeks for the last two years to try to help get the next goal, it's a pretty special moment for us to celebrate.' The NHL and the Capitals put together a video montage of greats from Simone Biles and Michael Phelps to Tom Brady, LeBron James and Derek Jeter to congratulate Ovechkin. In that moment, it was clear this accomplishment transcended hockey — and even sports. 'It's great for the game,' Ovechkin said. "It's great for us to be involved for this moment. ... Right now, people celebrate, people are happy and I'm just happy to be a part of it.' Longtime teammate John Carlson, who assisted on the tying 894th goal on Friday night in the first half of a wild weekend party, said he and the Capitals 'were just along for the ride.' So was everyone else watching, and Ovechkin provided a ride of a lifetime. ___ AP NHL: Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky's record brings joy to hockey and beyond sports
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Ovechkin could not contain his happiness moments after scoring his 895th goal to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL record and etch his name into the history books. 'We did it!' he told teammates in an electric visiting arena with over 17,000 fans locked in on his every move. 'It's history! Yeah!' Ovechkin celebrated No. 895 with the same joy he oozed after so many of his first 894, bellyflopping onto the ice like he did into fountains in Washington when he and the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018. That was the high-water mark for the franchise earning its first championship, but this stuck out in a different way. The Cup gets handed out once a year. Ovechkin broke a record that stood for more than three decades, with the chance for his reign to last even longer. At a time of the season in a team-centric sport that is usually reserved only for playoff races, Ovechkin's 'GR8 Chase' captivated the hockey community and brought joy not only to the sport but the rest of the world eager to witness something special. 'It's a testament to Ovi,' said center Dylan Strome, who along with Tom Wilson had the assists on Ovechkin's record-breaker Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. 'Everyone wants to see him succeed because he's such a happy guy. It doesn't matter if he scores a goal or someone else scores a goal: He's just as happy. And I think that's a credit to him and his character, and you could see why other people are so happy for him because of the way he treats other people.' The charismatic Russian superstar has made a career out of scoring like no one else and commemorating the moment even better. Whether it was jumping into the glass or mimicking that his stick was on fire, Ovechkin became one of the faces of the game for how he always acted like a little kid playing a grown-up sport. 'You just smile every time you see it,' coach Spencer Carbery said, echoing Strome about Ovechkin being just as happy to see his teammates score. 'It speaks to him, but also who he is as a captain and as a leader, of the happiness and joy that he has to win and to see others have success and others to score goals, as well.' No team or goaltender wanted to be the one to give up No. 895, but the Islanders — and netminder Ilya Sorokin, specifically, giving Ovechkin his stick when asked — still had full appreciation of the moment they were a part of. 'No matter what team you were cheering for tonight, everyone was a hockey fan,' Islanders captain Anders Lee said. 'Everyone on our side and their side can appreciate Ovi's accomplishment.' The run-up to the accomplishment was half the fun. Goal-counters from Washington to Moscow tracked the quest. Ticket prices surged and subsided based on how close Ovechkin was to catching and passing Gretzky. If the pressure was mounting on Ovechkin at 39 in the twilight of his career, he sure didn't show it. And the Capitals made it their life's work to get him the record. It finally came midway through the 77th game out of 82, bringing relief to everyone involved. 'Over the last couple of weeks, it has now turned into he's right there,' Carbery said. 'And for us, especially as coaches, we go to the hundreds and hundreds of hours that we've been trying to figure out ways to get him the next goal. (When) you've been working 80-hour weeks for the last two years to try to help get the next goal, it's a pretty special moment for us to celebrate.' The NHL and the Capitals put together a video montage of greats from Simone Biles and Michael Phelps to Tom Brady, LeBron James and Derek Jeter to congratulate Ovechkin. In that moment, it was clear this accomplishment transcended hockey — and even sports. 'It's great for the game,' Ovechkin said. 'It's great for us to be involved for this moment. ... Right now, people celebrate, people are happy and I'm just happy to be a part of it.' Longtime teammate John Carlson, who assisted on the tying 894th goal on Friday night in the first half of a wild weekend party, said he and the Capitals 'were just along for the ride.' So was everyone else watching, and Ovechkin provided a ride of a lifetime. ___
