'I'm Not Going To Take Any Credit': Ovechkin's Longtime Linemate Speaks About 'The Gr8 Chase'

Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Nicklas Backstrom played alongside Alex Ovechkin for 17 years, but he doesn't want the spotlight in his teammate's NHL goals record chase.

“I’m not going to take any credit – that’s all him,” Backstrom said.

Regardless of Backstrom's humility, he has played a big role in Ovechkin getting close to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's 894 goals. That's why the Washington Capitals held a press conference with Backstrom on Friday to discuss the record chase.

Which team will Alex Ovechkin score on to break the NHL's goals record?

No player has more assists on Ovechkin's goals than Backstrom, according to NHL Edge. He assisted on 279 Ovechkin goals, which is 124 more than the teammate with the second-most assists, defenseman John Carlson, who has 155 so far.

Backstrom was known as Ovechkin’s right-hand man as they were linemates for the majority of their careers. Backstrom entered the league two seasons after Ovechkin, in 2007-08. That year, Ovechkin scored 65 goals, while Backstrom had 55 assists and 69 points in his rookie campaign. It was a perfect match with Backstrom as the playmaker and Ovechkin as the sniper.

Backstrom discussed his favorite goal Ovechkin ever scored and mentioned one that came against the Montreal Canadiens in 2009. Backstrom didn't help No. 8 on this one.

Ovechkin picked up the puck in the neutral zone, knocked it off the boards and spun around his opponent at the same time. Then, he drove to the net down the left wing, fell to the ice and tucked it past Carey Price before crashing into the net.

Backstrom also mentioned Ovechkin’s famous diving goal against the Phoenix Coyotes, but because he wasn’t on the team yet, he laughed and said it “didn’t count.”

He also shared that while this is an unbelievable record that Ovechkin could have under his name, he said, “Never underestimate Alex.”

The Swede said that in his playing years, he always told people that if there was anyone who could challenge the goal record, it would be Ovechkin.

“He can put the puck in the net like no one else,” Backstrom said.

He was asked about how Ovechkin can put up these numbers at the age of 39 and in his 20th NHL season. Backstrom's answer was simple: that Ovechkin loves the game of hockey and more than anything else, he loves to score goals.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Sitting in his stall at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, still wearing his gear, untying his trademark yellow laces and proudly wearing his No. 8 on a gold chain around his neck, Alex Ovechkin glances over.

thehockeynews.comSitting Down With GR8Ness: There's More To Alex Ovechkin Beyond The GoalsARLINGTON, V.A. — Sitting in his stall at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, still wearing his gear, untying his trademark yellow laces and proudly wearing his No. 8 on a gold chain around his neck, Alex Ovechkin glances over.

That statement holds up considering the Capitals left winger has 888 career NHL goals and 35 tucks on the season. Ovechkin is just seven goals from becoming the best goal-scorer in NHL history.

Backstrom, meanwhile, is still under contract until the end of the season, but the 37-year-old hasn't played since 2023 after stepping away due to an "ongoing injury situation." He had hip resurfacing surgery in the summer of 2022. In 1,105 career games, Backstrom has 271 goals, 762 assists and 1,033 points.

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