The Washington Capitals honored Nicklas Backstrom during a first-period TV timeout at Capital One Arena, Tuesday.
The team aired a tribute video honoring Backstrom for becoming the 54th player in NHL history to reach 700 assists. Backstrom reached the mark on March 5 in a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The milestone put Backstrom among some of the greatest playmakers in NHL history.
The Washington Capitals returned to the ice on Tuesday after an off day Monday. They play the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night at home.
After scoring two of the Capitals’ three goals against the Philadelphia Flyers, Peter Laviolette will keep the Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and TJ Oshie top line together.
Lost in the chaos and controversy of the Capitals’ 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins was Nicklas Backstrom’s 700th career assist.
The apple put Backstrom in exclusive company, among a who’s who of Hockey Hall of Famers. Backstrom is the first Capital, the 10th European player, and the 54th NHL’er in history to reach the milestone.
After the game, the Capitals posted a tribute video and several teammates shared their congratulations for Backy.
Nicklas Backstrom just tallied a huge bit of history. The Capitals center recorded his 700th career assist on a Jakub Vrana goal.
The goal ended Jaroslav Halak’s shutout bid, making the game 5-1.
By Ian Oland 1 month ago
Nicklas Backstrom entered the weekend with 699 assists and will leave New Jersey with 699 assists.
“I think it’s the media that’s actually jinxing me, jinxing stuff this weekend,” Backstrom said during a postgame interview with MSG Network. “They talked about Ovi getting his 700th here (last year) and they thought it’d be cool if I got my 700th assist here too. It’s going to come when it’s going to come.”
While Backstrom didn’t tally an assist, he did score his tenth goal of the season, which leads all Capitals players.
Nicklas Backstrom has spent the last 14 seasons in the shadow of Alex Ovechkin, but this year, Nicke is different. The elite playmaker has become the elite finisher.
Thursday against the Penguins, Backstrom hit the back of the net again. And it was a very pretty goal.
Nicklas Backstrom now has points in 13 of his 15 games this season.
The Super Swede scored on a rebound to give the Capitals an early 1-0 lead.
Nicklas Backstrom’s second-period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins was a milestone marker.
The goal was Backstrom’s 250th goal of his career, incredibly making him only the fourth Capitals player ever to reach that mark. The Swedish center is also one of only 39 active players to have that many times.
Nicklas Backstrom scored his fifth goal of the season and tallied three points in the Capitals’ 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday. With his big night, Backstrom moved into fourth in the NHL in points (13). The win also made the Capitals the best team in the league.
But postgame, you would have never known if you peaked into the haunted eyes of the Swedish center. While in the Zoom room with Tom Wilson, Backstrom stared into an empty void as if he had just seen The Demogorgon eat all his friends in The Upside Down.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
Nicklas Backstrom was unable to finish Tuesday’s game against the New York Islanders. Early in the game, Backstrom got hit in the face with the puck, absorbing a slap shot dump-in to the left cheek. He also got hit late in the third period with a shot, which would eventually force him to retire to the locker room. Thursday, Backstrom returned for the Capitals’ morning skate.
“I had some tough breaks last game but I’m feeling good today,” Backstrom said. “Back to normal.”
But not everything was quite the same. Such as Backstrom’s face, which featured a black eye.
