Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin waves as he celebrates his third-period purpose towards the Winnipeg Jets on Friday in Washington. It was Ovechkin’s 802nd NHL purpose.

Nick Wass/AP

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Nick Wass/AP

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin waves as he celebrates his third-period purpose towards the Winnipeg Jets on Friday in Washington. It was Ovechkin’s 802nd NHL purpose.

Nick Wass/AP

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin barely appeared on the empty web when he shot the puck into it and set off a wild celebration together with his teammates and amongst Washington Capitals followers.

With a no-look empty-net purpose, Ovechkin made extra historical past and moved one other step nearer to breaking certainly one of hockey’s most hallowed information.

Ovechkin scored targets 801 and 802 Friday night time to maneuver into second place on the NHL profession checklist. After beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender David Rittich within the first interval to match Gordie Howe, Ovechkin virtually reluctantly scored from simply contained in the blue line with a minute left to move “Mr. Hockey.”

Only Wayne Gretzky with 894 has scored extra, and Ovechkin is now 93 targets from breaking a document that has lengthy appeared unapproachable.

“Step by step, guys,” Ovechkin stated after posing with sons Sergei and Ilya and the milestone pucks. “Still a long way.”

While it’ll take no less than a pair extra years to see if it is doable for Ovechkin to problem Gretzky, shifting previous Howe warranted loads of celebration. Fans chanted, “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!” all through Washington’s 4-1 win, by no means louder than after he hit the empty web.

Teammates did the identical within the locker room throughout a closed-door celebration, which adopted Jets gamers lining as much as shake Ovechkin’s hand at middle ice.

“I think it’s just to show respect, and it’s history for them as well,” Ovechkin stated. “The game is the game, but as soon as the whistle blows, it’s all about hockey. We respect each other.”

Ovechkin hit the put up on his first shot on the empty web and handed up one other try by giving the puck to countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov — and getting it again. Even if he did not wish to make historical past this manner, Washington’s longtime captain was going to do what it took to ice his staff’s fourth consecutive victory.

“It’s the kind of situation where if you have a chance to take it, you take it,” Ovechkin stated. “I give it to Kuzy and he’s like, ‘I don’t want to take it.’ But after that, it’s special.”

Teammates leapt off the bench in celebration and the sector purpose counter flipped to 802. A video tribute from Howe’s son Mark adopted.

“On behalf of Gordie Howe, the guy you just passed, and from (my) mother Colleen and the entire Howe family, we just want to congratulate on what a fantastic achievement,” Mark Howe stated in representing his father, who died in 2016 at age 88. “You’ve been a pleasure to watch.”

Ovechkin made the hockey group watch him chase Howe for greater than per week after recording a hat trick to change into simply the third participant with 800 targets. He endured a four-game purpose drought earlier than breaking by way of Friday.

“After the hat trick to get 800, it took a little while to get 801 and 802,” stated middle Dylan Strome, who assisted on Ovechkin’s first purpose of the sport. “To see the puck go in was just relief, I’m sure, from everyone.”

Ovechkin after tying Howe didn’t look glad with stopping at 801. He acquired a breakaway early within the second interval and was denied this time by Rittich — the 166th completely different goaltender he has scored on — and had just a few different possibilities as the sport progressed.

With the Capitals main 3-1 late and Rittich pulled for an additional attacker, followers chanted for Ovechkin to get onto the ice. He and coach Peter Laviolette had mentioned not forcing the state of affairs, however when it was Ovechkin’s flip, he did not miss his alternative.

“There is something good about what he does offensively when the goalie is out of the net, as well,” Laviolette stated. “We didn’t change anything and it is a pretty special moment, pretty special night.”

It made it extra particular for Ovechkin to have spouse Nastya and his sons in attendance. Minutes after 4-year-old Sergei and 2-year-old Ilya sat on his lap within the locker room, Ovechkin additionally beamed understanding his mother and father have been watching from their residence in Moscow.

“Very emotional,” Ovechkin stated. “Doing it with the home crowd, it’s special. They give me full support, and this is pretty big. It’s a historic moment. It’s nice to be in this category of players. It’s pretty cool.”