Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin missed a chance to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record by coming up just short in an empty net. With the game tied 4-3 against Chicago, Ovechkin had two goals early in the third period to tie Gretzky at 894, setting him up for a potential hat trick and record-breaking goal with an empty net.
However, Chicago pulled its goalie while down by one, giving Ovechkin an unfair advantage. When asked if he wanted to come out of the game, Ovechkin told coach Spencer Carbery that he didn’t want to take the easy way out. He opted to stay in and score a hat trick instead.
Despite coming close to the record-breaking goal with four shot attempts in the final two minutes, goalie Spencer Knight blocked his shots and kept the Capitals’ hopes alive. Ovechkin now has six games left in the regular season to break Gretzky’s record, with opportunities on Sunday against the New York Islanders and Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The moment was a significant one for Ovechkin, who plans to preserve the legacy of the record he aims to break. With Wayne Gretzky cheering him on, Ovechkin will continue to work towards his goal until it is finally achieved.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/article