Capitals’ Carbery doubts Ovechkin wants to break record with empty-netter
With Alex Ovechkin now just 12 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark, conversations have begun about how and when exactly it could happen.
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With Alex Ovechkin now just 12 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark, conversations have begun about how and when exactly it could happen.
After he scored goal No. 883 on Tuesday, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery joined The Sports Junkies podcast on Wednesday morning to discuss Ovechkin’s record chase.
Asked if he would put Ovechkin out on the ice ahead of either his tying or record-breaking goal in a situation where the Capitals held a comfortable lead and their opponent had pulled their goalie, Carbery had some thoughts.
“I’ve thought about it, and I haven’t talked to Ovi about this yet, but this is my guess is that when it gets to that point, I don’t think he’s going to want to break it with an empty-netter,” answered the coach.
“It’s a good point of, like, if it’s a one-goal game, do you do it? If it’s a three-goal game now, are you a little less likely to do it? You just want to make sure there’s a goalie in the net when he breaks it. Yeah, I haven’t gotten that far planning it, but I have thought about it, and I think it’s something that we’ll discuss and decide.
“I think, you know, the goal to break Wayne’s, this iconic record, it’ll be shown for years to come in history. I think you want a goaltender in net.”
The 39-year-old’s goal Tuesday against the Calgary Flames marked his 30th of the season, extending his NHL record for 30-goal seasons to 19.
Ovechkin tallied a hat trick on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers.
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The Capitals have 24 games left for Ovechkin to chase Gretzky’s record this season.
Carbery was asked if it matters whether the record goal ends up happening at home at Capital One Arena or on the road.
“No, it does not matter. You would like (it to happen at home), but to try to manufacture that, I just don’t think makes any sense, and you hope it organically happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t, but I don’t think you can script that or try to plan for that.
“And, unfortunately, I mean, just looking ahead, we play a lot of road games in April to finish our season. I want to say six of our last nine are on the road, so it is what it is. Hopefully, it’s this year, and hopefully, it’s at home, but you just keep playing the games and keep trying to get the next one.”
