After One Final Showdown In DC, Ovechkin & Fleury Reflect On 20 Years Of Rivalry: 'Game Respects Game'

WASHINGTON — Minutes after scoring, Alex Ovechkin bent down and smiled at Marc-Andre Fleury in the second period of Thursday's game between the Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild, telling him, 'I need one more.' Fleury's response: 'You already got one.'"

The two closed the book on what could be their final game against each other after 20 years of a rivalry that started while Fleury was with the Pittsburgh Penguins. There were three Stanley Cups hoisted between them, and ultimately, things culminated with a 4-3 shootout win where Fleury stopped Ovechkin's attempt to seal the victory.

"It's always fun. It's always a challenge," Ovechkin said of going up against Fleury.

No player has scored more on Fleury than Ovechkin, who has totalled 41 goals over the span of the regular season and playoffs on No. 29. It's the most goals that any player has on a goaltender in the NHL expansion era.

"He probably owes me a few things for scoring so many goals on me. I helped it out pretty good," Fleury joked. "I'm glad I got to face him."

At the end of the day, though, looking back, Fleury is happy he got to face off against Ovechkin, who sits just 24 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history.

"I don't like getting scored on by him, but I love the battle over the years," Fleury laughed, adding, "When you play against the best player in the world, right, it's always a good challenge and brings the best out of you... I feel fortunate I was able to play in this time."

The feeling is mutual for Ovechkin, who had nothing but good things to say about his 20 years going up against Fleury.

"He's one of the best goalies out there, and it's a huge challenge for me to play against him," he said.

Ultimately, as Fleury's time in the NHL comes to an end, Ovechkin and the Capitals have been happy to have a front-row seat to it all.

"I kind of said it earlier, but I think he's a guy that when he's gone, the game will miss him. He's fun to have in the league. He's a heck of a goalie," Tom Wilson said. We've had a lot of battles against him. And I think O and him, always see them kind of smiling back and forth. I mean, game respects game and it's fun to see kind of all-time legends kind of going at it."