New York Rangers Daily: Alex Ovechkin appreciation; Islanders, Red Wings remain alive
Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, two of the greatest players in NHL history, have many things in common. Chief among them around these parts is how each has tormented the New York Rangers for the past two decades.
Though Sidney — still referred to as Cindy by many of the Blueshirts Faithful — is probably more disliked by Rangers fans, neither superstar is particularly welcome at Madison Square Garden. That each plays for a division rival and there’ve been a fair share of playoff meetings over the years against Crosby and Ovechkin fuels the fire.
It can be argued that Crosby is more of a villain in the eyes of Rangers fans than Ovechkin. Perhaps that’s because he’s won the Stanley Cup three times, part of a mini-Pittsburgh Penguins dynasty, at the expense of the Rangers. Maybe New Yorkers more appreciate the locomotive-like ferocity in Ovechkin’s game or his cannon shot.
Bottom line. Each has abused the Rangers for years.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate greatness when it’s before us. And each of these players is great. However, let’s focus here on Ovechkin, who tied Wayne Gretzky’s record for most goals in NHL history Friday night, scoring twice against the Chicago Blackhawks to reach the magic 894 total of The Great One.
Ovechkin is 39 years old and sustained a fractured fibula earlier in the season, missing 16 games because of the injury. Yet he has 41 goals in 60 games. That’s an absurd scoring rate, without even factoring in his age or that this is his 20th season in the NHL. And he’s coming to the wire like the thoroughbred he is. With the end of the regular season two weeks away and the pressure on to catch Gretzky, Ovechkin has five goals in his past four games, six in six, and eight in his past 10. He could’ve — should’ve — scored four or more against Spencer Knight and Co. on Friday.
Ovechkin is not only still scoring goals, he’s dominating games for the first-place Capitals. That’s nothing new. He owns the NHL record for scoring 40+ goals three times since the age of 35, He’s now scored 40+ goals 14 times in his career, another NHL record.
Quite simply, he’s a machine on the ice. Just think, it was only a year ago many of us questioned if The Great 8 was nearing the end. He scored “only” 31 goals in 79 games last season and looked like a shell of himself when the Rangers swept the Capitals in the first-round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It was even debated how much he’d drag a young Capitals team down while chasing Gretzky’s goal mark. It could take two seasons at his declining rate to get the 42 he needed, all at the expense of team growth and success.
Wrong.
The Capitals (49-18-9) are tops in the Eastern Conference with 107 points, one behind the Winnipeg Jets in the Presidents’ Trophy race. And Ovechkin is, well, Ovechkin again.
If you’re a hockey fan — Rangers fan or not — you’ve got to appreciate historic greatness. You’ve got to appreciate Alex Ovechkin.
Catch the latest RINK RAP podcast talking Gabe Perreault debut, full K’Andre Miller experience & more, at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page.
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Wayne Gretzky was present at Capital One Arena when Alex Ovechkin tied his all-time goals record, and The Great One explained why it’s important he be there to support and salute The Great 8.
Leon Draisaitl won’t play for the Edmonton Oilers in their crucial clash with the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury. However, the NHL goal-scoring leader is expected back before the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The surging St. Louis Blues will be without forward Dylan Holloway; he’s week to week with a lower-body injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be missing defenseman Jake McCabe and forward David Kampf when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Each is day to day with an undisclosed injury.
As if the Vancouver Canucks don’t have enough injuries, defenseman Tyler Myers iikely won’t play Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks after getting “banged up” earlier in the week against the Seattle Kraken.
The Islanders ended a six-game skid (0-4-2) with a 3-1 home-ice win against the Minnesota Wild, keeping their very slim playoff hopes alive for another day.
Similarly, the Detroit Red Wings remained afloat with a 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Watch the Chicago Blackhawks line up to show respect to Alex Ovechkin.
Watch the press conference as Ovechkin and Gretzky meet with the media together Friday night.
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