ARLINGTON, Va. – Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and alternate captain Nicklas Backstrom are scheduled to play in their 1,000th career game together tonight when the Capitals play the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Capitals’ franchise leaders in goals and assists played their first game together on Oct. 5, 2007 against the Atlanta Thrashers, with each player recording an assist in the game.
Ovechkin and Backstrom – who became the first and second players, respectively, to play 1,000 games with the Capitals – will become the ninth set of teammates in NHL history to accomplish this feat. Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown are the only other active set of teammates to accomplish this feat (1,149 games). The Capitals will become the seventh franchise to have two teammates accomplish this feat with one team.
In their prior 999 games together, Ovechkin has 1,095 points (612g, 483a), while Backstrom has 958 points (251g, 707a). Backstrom has assisted on 274 of Ovechkin’s 764 goals (35.9%), more than double the amount of assists any other teammate of Ovechkin’s has recorded (John Carlson: 133 assists on 764 goals, 17.4%). Backstrom has additionally assisted on 117 of Ovechkin’s NHL record 279 power play goals. Ovechkin has assisted on 106 of Backstrom’s 262 goals (40.5%). The Capitals hold a record of 590-299-110 with Ovechkin and Backstrom in the lineup.
Ovechkin enters tonight’s game ranked fourth in the NHL in goals (34) and eighth in points (68). With 764 career goals, Ovechkin trails Jaromir Jagr (766g) by two goals for the third-most in NHL history. Ovechkin is additionally on pace for 98 points this season. Should he reach the mark, Ovechkin would become the third player in NHL history to record 98 points at the age of 36 or older, joining Gordie Howe (1968-69, aged 40, 103 points) and Joe Sakic (2006-07, aged 37, 100 points).
Backstrom is currently three points shy of 1,000 career points (262g, 735a). Backstrom will join Ovechkin as the only players in franchise history to reach the 1,000-point mark. Since Backstrom’s NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2007, he ranks fifth in the NHL in points and will become the fifth player to record 1,000 points during that span, joining Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Evgeni Malkin.
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