NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has officially hit the road with Alex Ovechkin closing in on hockey immortality.
A day after Ovechkin scored his 891st career goal against the Boston Bruins, Bettman was in the stands Wednesday night for Washington’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, his son Zach, and Ovechkin’s wife Nastya also joined Bettman at Lenovo Center.
In the second period, the traveling party watched as Ovechkin scored his 892nd career goal on a Capitals’ two-man advantage.
“I don’t think anybody ever thought that this record could be broken, and it’s a testament to Alex Ovechkin and his skill, his durability,” Bettman said to TNT’s Tarik El-Bashir. “He’s just amazing, and this is just an exciting time to watch him try and break this record.”
Bettman also highlighted the impact Ovechkin’s chase has had on the league as a whole, drawing in new viewers to the sport as Ovechkin becomes one of the biggest stories in sports.
“I think it captures the imagination of people, not just hockey fans or sports fans,” Bettman said. “This is something very special, a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it’s great to see somebody like Alex trying to achieve this result.”
Before traveling to Raleigh, Bettman appeared on Sportsnet after the NHL announced a 12-year Canadian broadcasting rights deal with Rogers.
The NHL plans to pause play and hold an on-ice ceremony — much as they did for Gretzky — after Ovechkin scores goal no. 895, though hockey insider Chris Johnston reported that the game stoppage will be limited to seven minutes.
Wayne Gretzky has also signaled that he will travel with the team as Ovechkin approaches his record to, as he’s said in past interviews, be the first person to shake his hand.
