Congratulations came flowing in from the hockey world Sunday for Alex Ovechkin after the Washington Capitals star surpassed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer.
And Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak made sure to take his place in line to pay respect to Ovechkin.
Pastrnak, like many of his fellow NHL players, had a congratulatory message for Ovechkin once he set the record with his 895th career goal.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment. I’m so happy I could lace them up against you,” Pastrnak said, per team-provided video. “Watching you scoring all the goals, it’s been an amazing treat to my career as well to play against you. I will never forget about Game 1, when you lined up next to me and I was looking so up high for you. So happy for you. I don’t think anybody’s going to be beating you.”
Pastrnak being a terrific goal-scorer in his own right gives him a greater appreciation and understanding of what Ovechkin achieved.
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But does Pastrnak have any chance of one day catching Ovechkin? It’s a massive long shot. Pastrnak, who turns 29 next month, enters Sunday’s contest against the Buffalo Sabres with 388 career goals. And despite notching a fourth consecutive season with at least 40 goals, Pastrnak would need to score at a minimum of 50 goals per season over the next 10 years to give himself a shot.
That further puts into perspective just how impressive a feat Ovechkin pulled off.
Featured image via Perry Nelson/Imagn Images
