THE GREAT 8 GOT THE BIG ONE FROM 'HIS OFFICE'

 On Long Island, N.Y., even the hostile crowd got in 

the mood.

“Ovi!… Ovi!… Ovi!” the fans chanted … and 

seldom let up.

It was the quintessential feel-good moment … when

 ALEX OVECHKIN became the NHL’s all-time 

leader in putting the biscuit in the basket (sorry, I 

couldn’t resist) at 1:47 p.m., Sunday … 7:26 into the 

second period … beating fellow-Russian ILYA 

SOROKIN, in goal for the New York Islanders, for 

the first time ever (believe it or not), with one of his 

classic shots from just inside the top of the left circle 

… what just about everyone interviewed on Caps’ 

TV referred to as “his office.” In fact, it was noted by 

long-time analyst (and former player) CRAIG 

LAUGHLIN that, of his record 895 goals, 393 or 

about 43 percent, were scored from that side of the 

ice.

“Ovi! … Ovi! … Ovi!”

To that point, although the Islanders led 2-0, it had 

been “a typical day game … very flat,” said ex-Cap

 ALAN MAY … “A sleepy start,” was the way 

Laughlin put it … Said Voice of the Capitals JOE 

BENINATI, “It was not an inspiring first period.” … 

Then, after more of the same at the outset of the 

second 20 minutes, Laughlin was talking about the 

Caps “having to create their own excitement,” when 

the Islanders did their part, putting Washington on 

the power play for the first time … and 26 seconds 

later …

It began innocently enough, with goaltender

 CHARLIE LINDGREN handling the puck behind 

the goal and giving it to defenseman JOHN 

CARLSON, who skated up the left side before 

dropping a no-look pass behind him to RYAN 

STROME … who criss-crossed with defenseman

 JAKOB CHYCHRUN. Strome, the center on the 

team’s top line, darted to his right before sending a 

short pass to TOM WILSON … who, in turn, fired 

an ice-hugging pass back across the ice, somehow 

eluding an interception by Islanders’ RW SIMON 

HOLMSTROM, straight to an un-marked 

Ovechkin. He had time to settle the puck on his stick 

before ripping a wrist shot by Sorokin on the short 

side.

“Ovi! … Ovi! … Ovi!”

If there ever was a classic rush, involving all six 

players on the ice, this was it … and Beninati went 

from routine description to … “HE SCORES! … 

THE CHASING DAYS ARE DONE. ALEX 

OVECHKIN IS THE GREATEST GOAL SCORER 

IN THE HISTORY OF THE NHL.” … The Great 8 

responded by diving headfirst on the ice, 

thus beginning (as promised) a long delay to suitably 

mark the unique occasion … with a ceremony that 

featured former record-holder WAYNE GRETZKY, 

NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN, Capitals’ 

owner TED LEONSIS and Ovechkin’s family 

including his mother who, for the most part, didn’t 

smile or react much … undoubtedly because she 

wasn’t familiar with the English language. His wife 

Anastasi and two young sons seemed dazed by it all, 

too.

About 23 minutes later, after The Great 8 engaged all 

of the Islanders, Caps and assorted friends and 

family in a giant hugathon (among many other 

things) the game resumed. The Caps lost 4-1, and it 

didn’t matter. With five games left in the regular 

season, they would seem a shoo-in for numero uno 

in the East … If only someone would ask Ovechkin, 

who turned 39 in September, if he plans to retire. He 

has one year left on his contract … Laughlin 

sounded so sure of himself, saying, “He’s not going 

to stop doing what he loves so much to do.”

And the chant went on … “Ovi! … Ovi! … Ovi!” … 

and on.

Until next time ...