Two hockey dignitaries were in attendance Friday night to witness the Great 8 pursue NHL history.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky were in the building together for the Washington Capitals‘ game against the Chicago Blackhawks as left winger Alex Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s all-time regular season career goals record of 894 with goals in the first and third periods of a 5-3 victory. The longtime Capitals captain is now one away from breaking the 31-year-old record after recording No. 892 in a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., earlier this week.
Gretzky joined Bettman, who was in attendance with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis on Wednesday night. Both Gretzky and Bettman had already been planning to go from game to game to watch Ovechkin’s pursuit in person but at first couldn’t quite decide on when.
“Wayne Gretzky and I were having the debate,” Bettman said speaking at a Sportradar event on Tuesday. “I said with five to go we should start. He said, ‘No, we’ll do it at 4’. … We have a traveling road show.”
Fans can expect to see the commissioner and The Great One in attendance moving forward until Ovechkin breaks the record. They’re expected to be joined by a host of NHL officials and other league stakeholders during each of his stops, with the playoff-bound Capitals having six regular-season games left after Friday night’s win. Once the record is broken, the league is planning to briefly pause the game as the commissioner joins the Russian hockey star for an on-ice celebration that highlights the feat in real time.
NHL media partner ESPN is planning to provide more coverage tonight on NHL Power Play. The network also recently launched OviCast, a special alternate presentation. The alt-cast, which made its debut last week and features an isolated camera on Ovechkin in one box, will be available again when the Caps host the Hurricanes on next Thursday. That same night Prime Video in Canada will feature the Caps on NHL Coast to Coast as part of its whiparound coverage. The same will happen on April 17 when the Caps travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ovechkin, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, has recorded his 14th season with at least 40 goals, extending his NHL record. The 39-year-old has scored 41 goals through 60 games despite missing five weeks earlier this season with a fractured fibula.
Ovechkin’s record chase has set off a memorabilia collection frenzy, from his personal stash to auction houses. The historical sports moment has also provided the Capitals with unique business opportunities while fulfilling their captain’s philanthropic efforts. The team announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with Union Market District to open a temporary skating rink, where a portion of proceeds from ticket sales will go to his pediatric cancer research initiative called The GR8 Chase for Victory Over Cancer.
(This story, originally published Friday afternoon, has been updated throughout to reflect the happenings of Friday night’s game.)
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