Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom became the 22nd teammates in NHL history to ever play 900 games together Friday against the New Jersey Devils.
To celebrate the milestone, Ovi and Nicky decided to score the Capitals’ first goals of the night consecutively to complete a perfect storyline arc.
Alex Ovechkin goal
After the New Jersey Devils took a 1-0 lead four minutes into the game, the Capitals eventually tied 14:25 later. Nicklas Backstrom gained the zone, slid the puck to Ovechkin on the right wing, and then skated in front of MacKenzie Blackwood’s sightline.
Ovechkin fired the puck through Backstrom’s legs and to far corner of the net to tie the game 1-1.
🚨 Alex Ovechkin
1-1 pic.twitter.com/w1uLCvzFPu— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) December 21, 2019
The goal was Ovechkin’s 22nd of the season. And of course, Nicklas Backstrom got the primary assist.
dear narrative,
this 8+19 storyline is unrealistic. please don't ever make any changes or revisions.
painfully yours,#allcaps fans pic.twitter.com/12sWHgyha7
— b. (@youripides) December 21, 2019
Ovi is now five goals shy of passing Teemu Selanne (684) for the 11th most goals in NHL history.
Nicklas Backstrom goal
Capitals head coach Todd Reirden noticed his star duo was feeling it so he double-shifted Ovechkin and Backstrom. They scored again 1:10 later.
Backstrom redirected a John Carlson shot from the point into the back of the net.
And, after getting double-shifted the next shift, Nicklas Backstrom scores the Capitals second goal of the night pic.twitter.com/4rJbiyT1dx
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 21, 2019
The Swedish center later would add a goal in the second period and an assist in the third to hit the 900-point plateau (239g, 661a).
Backstrom has 12 points (4g, 8a) in his last eight games.
According to @NBCSWashington, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are only the 22nd pair in NHL history to play 900+ games together. Backstrom has assisted on 254 of Ovechkin's 679 career goals (37.4%) while Ovi has assisted on 98 of Nicky's 237 goals (41.3%). pic.twitter.com/ngjuKuZKc7
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 21, 2019
What a dynamic duo.
