'They Get Excited For Him': Todd McLellan Speaks On Alex Ovechkin's Pursuit Of Wayne Gretzky

During the first period of Sunday's 4–2 Detroit Red Wings win over the Washington Capitals, Patrick Kane and Alex Ovechkin—two of the NHL's defining 21st century superstars—exchanged milestones.

Kane entered the night with 1,298 career points.  He proceeded to score a power play goal at the 6:44 mark of the first—beating Caps goaltender Charlie Lindgren with a long-range wrister.  Not quite six minutes later, Kane provided the primary assist on an Alex DeBrincat goal that made it 3—1 Red Wings, feathering a pass across the crease that DeBrincat could hammer home.  In so doing, Kane became the third American to hit the 1,300 point plateau—following in the footsteps of Mike Modano and Brett Hull (the latter born in Belleville, Ontario but represented Team USA internationally, hence the occasional distinction of Kane as just the second US born player to reach the milestone.)

In between points 1,299 and 1,300 for Kane, Ovechkin scored career goal number 870, bringing him 24 shy of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL record.  Ovechkin finished off a rush in which Detroit overcommitted to the strong side, leaving the Capitals captain unattended from his signature one-time spot from the left circe.

After the game, new Red Wing coach Todd McLellan pointed to the way both Ovechkin and Kane's milestones prove motivating for their teammates.  "He's chasing Gretzky," McLellan said of Ovechkin's quest.  "He's doing it a little later on in his career, and he seems to be getting better than he was last year or the year before.  And they've done a really good job with their team, an excellent job, but he's done a real good job with his chase to energize that group too.  They get excited for him, and that pumps their team up.  Patty got 1,300 points tonight.  That gave us a little energy.  I could hear guys on the bench—'We gotta get Patty the puck.'...Those special moments or events, they energize other guys.  They get them excited.  And it's working for their team."

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