Ovechkin's legacy is about scoring goals -- as he closes in on Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 -- and these plays are an instrumental part of that legacy. So much so that the area in the left faceoff circle has become known as "Ovi's Office."

Amid a disastrous 2024-25 NHL season, Joe Sacco and the Boston Bruins reached an all-time low for the first time since 1997 after their recent 4-3 loss against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

It’s a full-circle moment for Ovechkin, whose NHL career officially started in the same building -- it was called the RBC Center at the time -- at the 2004 NHL Draft. Ross Mahoney, who was Washington's director of amateur scouting at the time Ovechkin was selected No. 1, remembers.

Fleury, who’s in his 21st and assuredly final season in the league, was on the home bench all night while Filip Gustavsson manned the net.

Barry Trotz on how Ovechkin has continued to evolve as opponents adjust to him: "He could take hard coaching, and that’s very, very unique."