Alex Ovechkin played in his 1,500th career game on Saturday as the Washington Capitals faced the Ottawa Senators at Capital One Arena.
The 40-year-old is the 24th player in NHL history to reach that milestone and just the eighth to do so with the same club.
Most games with a single franchise in NHL history
| Player | Franchise | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe | Detroit Red Wings | 1,687 |
| Patrick Marleau | San Jose Sharks | 1,607 |
| Niklas Lidstrom | Detroit Red Wings | 1,564 |
| Alex Delvecchio | Detroit Red Wings | 1,550 |
| Shane Doan | Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes | 1,540 |
| Ray Bourque | Boston Bruins | 1,518 |
| Steve Yzerman | Detroit Red Wings | 1,514 |
| Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 1,500 |
Five of the seven players Ovechkin joined on that list are still alive today. They each recorded video messages congratulating him which the team posted on social media ahead of puck drop.
The video also played on the jumbotron inside Capital One Arena during a break in the action.
Here’s what each legend of the game had to say:
Ray Bourque
“Hey Ovi, feels like yesterday [was] the year you got drafted. I want to congratulate you on 1,500 games with one team. You’re only one of eight players to accomplish this.”
Steve Yzerman
“[It’s] a tremendous accomplishment. You’ve had an incredible career to date.”
Patrick Marleau
“Congratulations, Ovi on reaching another milestone in your illustrious career. 1,500 games with one club, what a truly amazing accomplishment.”
Niklas Lidstrom
“Congratulations on reaching 1,500 games. What a great milestone. And you’re still keeping strong.”
Shane Doan
“To be loyal to one organization and to stick with Washington in the way that you have is absolutely unbelievable. Well, your career and everything you’ve done is just another notch in your storybook career.”
