The Supporting Cast: Ovechkin Tying Gretzky Isn't Just A Milestone For Him, But Also For His Capitals Teammates

WASHINGTON — After John Carlson watched his pass to Alex Ovechkin on the power play sail past Spencer Knight for the Washington Capitals captain's record-tying 894th career goal, he threw himself into the glass at Capital One Arena, then screamed as he and his teammates swarmed Ovechkin in celebration.

Carlson knew it was history. He'd seen it time and time again with Ovechkin, but this time, it meant something bigger, something harder to put into words.

"It felt different the whole night," Carlson explained. "Some guys are larger than life."

Carlson's 158 assists to Ovechkin are the second-most of any player, behind only Nicklas Backstrom, who set up 279 of Ovechkin's strikes. So, it was only fitting that he was the one to set up 894.

"It's how you write it up, I guess," Dylan Strome, who's been Ovechkin's center the last few years, said as he sipped a Bud Light in the locker room postgame. "That was awesome... It was just one of those things that was meant to happen, and so glad to be a part of it."

Ovechkin himself "still can't believe" that he's tied with Wayne Gretzky now atop the NHL's all-time goals leaderboard. But for his teammates, it was just a matter of time.

"It was just shivers," Tom Wilson said. "It was just something that everyone dreams of being a part of and to have a front-row seat and see him, I’m just so proud of him and so happy for him. As far as the game of hockey, it’s something when I get old I’m sure I’ll be telling that story over and over and over.”

Of course, the feat is a huge testament to the work the captain's put in. No one can shoot the puck like the 6-foot-3, 238-pound power forward, who puts every ounce of strength he can into bending his stick for the perfect shot that's eluded goalies for 20 years and counting.

Ovechkin, though, didn't take all the credit; he put his supporting cast on display because without them, there would be no "GR8 Chase" to begin with.

"Without my boys, I would never reach that milestone. I was lucky enough to play with great players. Obviously, Nick Backstrom, TJ Oshie, Mike Green,  (Sergei) Fedorov, (Viktor) Kozlov, Mike Knuble — all those guys help me a lot, and I learned a lot from them, as well, because we were growing up together.," Ovechkin said. "We hang out together. We do all those things together."

As Gretzky also pointed out, the weight of a record like this one weighs not just on No. 8, but on his fellow Capitals, who also carry that pressure in helping Ovechkin achieve hockey immortality.

"People don't realize this — because I went through what Alex is going through — t's hard on your teammates, too," Gretzky said. "It's joyful and it's exciting, but they feel the pressure and the stress and they have to answer all the questions also. So my hat goes off to the entire organization."

As the attention now shifts to 895, Ovechkin's teammates will continue to try to do what they can to get him to make further hockey history.

"It was pretty incredible just to put our heads down and try and rally as a group and try and get it done," Wilson said. "There’s really no words to describe it. Everybody here saw it.

"That guy's scored a lot of goals," rookie Ryan Leonard said, adding, "Just sprinting onto the ice. Everyone’s so happy and excited. It’s just the culture in here. It speaks for itself. It’s so much fun to play for the Capitals and to watch that guy do the impossible, honestly."