Brett Connolly wasn’t the only Capitals player to hit a big milestone Tuesday against the Devils.
Nicklas Backstrom notched a secondary assist on Tom Wilson’s second-period goal. The assist gave Backstrom 50 on the season.
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Backstrom earned the apple by carrying the puck into the zone. Backstrom dropped the biscuit to Ovechkin who then worked his Russian machine magic. After faking a shot, Ovi sent the puck to Wilson who would score a muffin from the left circle.
It’s the sixth consecutive season Backstrom has hit the 50-assist mark, which is very significant.
From the Caps PR:
Nicklas Backstrom has recorded his 50th assist of the season, his sixth straight season with 50 assists. He becomes the 26th player in NHL history to accomplish this feat, and one of two active players (San Jose’s Joe Thornton).
Of the 25 other players to accomplish this feat, 23 are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The other two, Thornton and Henrik Sedin, are not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame.
The assist also marked the ninth time in Backstrom’s career he has hit 50 assists. That moved Nicky past Henrik Sedin for the most 50-assist seasons by a Swedish born player.
Backstrom also has passed Sedin and Stan Mikita to tie Jaromir Jagr & Peter Stastny for the 2nd most such campaigns among European-born players all-time (9. Most: 10- Jari Kurri) https://t.co/oqfjMWqJ6U
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 20, 2019
While Backstrom’s arguably one of the most underrated players of this generation, he’s beginning to get the recognition he deserves from national analysts. Recently, NBC Sports’ Mike Milbury said Backstrom is deserving of making the Hall of Fame since winning the Stanley Cup.
Mike Milbury says he believes Nicklas Backstrom will make the Hall of Fame after winning a Stanley Cup
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 3, 2019
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Devils
Headline photo: Capitals
