The moment finally arrived after Alex Ovechkin shot the puck into the crease against the Islanders. Goal number 985. With that historic shot, Ovechkin finally surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s 26-year-old record. It was the moment that the entire hockey world was waiting for, and the Capitals star didn’t disappoint on the night. While Ovechkin cherished the historic goal, it was his wife who took away a precious six-figure gift after the game.
Confused? Here’s the context. Back when Gretzky broke Gordie Howe‘s goal record, Howe’s wife, Colleen Howe, gifted Gretzky’s wife, Janet, a diamond ring. Even though this isn’t a tradition that’s going to be practiced often or even anytime soon, Janet made sure to pass it on. So, just like Colleen, Janet also gifted Ovechkin’s wife, Anastasia, an eight-carat diamond ring worth around $280,000.
Talking about the tradition, Gretzky went on to say, “A month ago, my wife said, ‘You know, Colleen Howe started a tradition. I’m not sure if anyone is going to break Alex’s record, but I want to give her (Ovechkin’s wife, Anastasia Shubskaya) something really unique.’ So, we went out and she picked out an eight-diamond ring for Alex’s wife. Not only do hockey guys pass down traditions. So do the families and wives.”
Meanwhile, Gretzky wore a Gordie Howe pin to yesterday’s record-breaking game between the Capitals and the Islanders. Although the night belonged to Ovechkin, the Capitals went down 1-4 against the Islanders. Nonetheless, Ovechkin couldn’t believe what he had just achieved and was over the moon after scoring the historic goal.
Alex Ovechkin in wonderland
It was 7:26 in the second period when Ovechkin’s shot whistled past his compatriot Ilya Sorokin and into the net. Alex Ovechkin burst into celebration, belly flopping on the ice, a celebration that reminded fans of the time he jumped into a Georgetown fountain following the Capitals’ Stanley Cup win in 2018.
Although Ovi claimed it was an accidental fall due to bad ice conditions, his teammate disagreed. “That looked very much like a fountain dive,” said forward T.J. Oshie. Ovechkin was immediately swarmed by his teammates as the UBS Arena exploded in a cacophony of noise and celebrations. But the man himself needed a minute to digest the momentousness of what he had just achieved.
Talking about the historic goal, Alex Ovechkin said, “This is something crazy. I’m probably going to need a couple more days or maybe a couple weeks to realize what does it mean to be No. 1. But I can say I’m very proud. I’m really proud for myself. I’m really proud for my family, for all my teammates that help me to reach that milestone and for all my coaches.”
He further added, “It’s huge. It’s unbelievable. It’s an unbelievable moment and I’m happy.” It was a perfect night for Ovechkin and the Capitals, barring the final result. But in the grand scheme of things, the result is immaterial, especially considering the Capitals have already locked in their place in the playoffs.
It was a packed stadium with 17,255 fans, including thousands of Capitals fans, who had traveled all the way from Washington to witness the historic feat. Indeed, Alex Ovechkin rewarded their commitment with the perfect outcome. While he may take some time to soak in his achievement, the Capitals would want to enter the playoffs with the feel-good momentum created by the feat. Can they lift the 2025 Stanley Cup? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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