Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL’s all-time goals record on Sunday after scoring on New York Islanders’ goaltender Ilya Sorokin for the first time in his career. Coming into the game, Sorokin was one of just 29 goalies who had faced an Ovechkin shot in either the regular season or the playoffs and never allowed him to score.
Given the extensive list of goalies Ovechkin has made pluck pucks out of their nets — an NHL record 183 — Budweiser Canada honored the rare few that can still say they have never been beaten by The Great 8. To do so, they delivered commemorative “Kings of Zero” cans to the group of Ovechkin-stopping backstops as part of the promotion for their alcohol-free product.
The label on each can reads, “The greatest goal scorer of all time couldn’t score on you,” and includes jersey numbers specific to each goalie. Every can also includes the number of Ovechkin shots that the goalie saved and a goalie mask logo surrounded by text that reads “nothing got past you.”
Curtis Joseph, one of only three Vezina finalists on the list of 28, was the first to show off his can. Joseph played just 5:57 of a game against the Capitals and Ovechkin on March 24, 2009, and was still forced into nine saves, two from Ovechkin shots.
“Hey, Ovi, congratulations on breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record,” Joseph said in a follow-up video. “But you didn’t get one on me. Two shots only, but zero here is the important number.”
The NHL Alumni Association collected responses and videos from five other goalies, the first being Manny Legace. Only four goalies out of the 28 on the list stopped more Ovechkin shots than Legace’s 14.
“Congratulations, Ovi, for breaking the record and becoming the great goal scorer of all time,” Legace said. “Never thought that record would ever be broken. I also want to thank you for taking it easy on me. Zero goals and 14 shots in the chest. Congratulations again, Ovi. You deserve it.”
Ovechkin’s first game against Legace came in 2007 when the goaltender was on the St. Louis Blues. They played against one another two more times a few years later when Legace moved to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Mike Condon, who is behind just Michal Neuvirth and Vitek Vanecek in saves on the list with 18 in seven games played, also sent in a response. Condon played his games against Ovechkin with the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens from 2015-2018.
“Congrats, Ovi, on 895,” Condon said. “That’s a significant number, but as all my fellow goalies would attest, zero is a much more significant number. And, I’m really glad that they don’t count preseason.”
Mathieu Garon played seven career games against Ovechkin with the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He stopped 16 Ovechkin shots, fourth-most on the list behind just Condon and Neuvirth.
“Congrats, Ovi, on 895,” Garon said. “It was an honor to play seven games against you, and thank you for not scoring on those 16 shots you got on me. Cheers to you, enjoy.”
After Garon came a response from one of the more unlikely names on the list, Jeff Zatkoff. Zatkoff played just 48 games in the NHL for the Kings and Penguins, and two came against Ovechkin, where he stopped four of his shots.
“Hey, Jeff Zatkoff here, one of the 28 goalies to never let Ovi light the lamp,” Zatkoff said. “Truth be told, the only real reason he never scored is because they never let me play him. But, hey, look at me now. Got my own beer can. Congrats, Ovi. You lit up the league, now go enjoy an ice-cold Bud Zero. Cheers.”
Rob Zepp, who played just 10 career NHL games all during the 2014-15 campaign, faced off against Ovechkin and the Capitals twice. He made 10 total saves in those two games.
“Congratulations on scoring number 895, Ovi,” Zepp said. “I am proud to say, though, 10 shots, zero goals against. I’ll take it. What isn’t counted in those 10 shots are the two crossbars that you hit on me. You were quick to remind me on the ice that I might have gotten a little lucky, and you’re probably right, but I’m happy that they stayed out so I can stay that I’m part of a group of goalies that put up zeroes against the greatest goal scorer of all time. Congratulations again on making history.”
One goalie not lucky enough to be on the list, Eddie Lack, who gave up four goals to Ovechkin, also chimed in on the promotion.
“This is bullshit,” Lack tweeted. “If I knew there was beers involved I would’ve tried harder.”
Joseph, Legace, and Condon are all no longer playing, but 11 of the goalies on the list are still active and on an NHL roster. Ovechkin could still trim a few off in the final year of his contract with the Capitals next season and take their cans for himself.
Devon Levi, one of those active goalies, posted a selfie with his can to his Instagram story.
“Congrats, Ovi, happy to not be a part of it,” Levi wrote. “Thanks for the 4 dump-ins.”
These are all 28 goalies that should have received cans from Budweiser and the number of Ovechkin shots they stopped.
NHL goalies that faced an Ovechkin shot and never surrendered a goal (regular season + playoffs)
| Goalie | Games played | Ovechkin shots saved |
|---|---|---|
| Michal Neuvirth | 9 | 25 |
| Vitek Vanecek | 5 | 19 |
| Mike Condon | 7 | 18 |
| Mathieu Garon | 7 | 16 |
| Manny Legace | 3 | 14 |
| Kevin Lankinen | 3 | 14 |
| Joey Daccord | 4 | 14 |
| Joel Blomqvist | 3 | 11 |
| Manny Fernandez | 2 | 10 |
| Rob Zepp | 2 | 10 |
| Akira Schmid | 4 | 8 |
| Joel Hofer | 2 | 8 |
| Garret Sparks | 1 | 6 |
| Erik Ersberg | 1 | 5 |
| Jocelyn Thibault | 1 | 5 |
| Jeff Zatkoff | 2 | 4 |
| Anthony Stolarz | 1 | 4 |
| Erik Kallgren | 1 | 4 |
| Devon Levi | 1 | 4 |
| Lukas Dostal | 1 | 3 |
| Jean-Francois Berube | 1 | 3 |
| Arvid Soderblom | 1 | 2 |
| Curtis Joseph | 1 | 2 |
| David Aebischer | 1 | 2 |
| Braden Holtby | 1 | 2 |
| Collin Delia | 1 | 2 |
| Trent Miner | 1 | 1 |
| Jakub Dobes | 1 | 1 |
