"Russians, we did it"

On Sunday, April 6, Russian hockey player Alexander Ovechkin scored his 895th NHL goal in an away match against the Islanders in New York, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record and becoming the best sniper in the history of the league. Ovi was supported by his closest friends in New York: his mother Tatiana, his wife Anastasia, and his sons Sergey and Ilya. Wayne Gretzky also came to the game — he was present at the last Washington match, in which Ovechkin repeated his record. Ovechkin began his last leg on the way to a new peak under the conditions of severe pressure related to the political situation in the world, and emerged from it with maximum dignity. It deserves respect, no matter how much the haters tear their throats out. The very word "Russian" in hockey has not sounded so proud for a long time. A unique record belongs not only to Ovechkin, but also to the whole country, where the great striker grew up and developed his talent.

About 15-17 years ago, during the years of Alexander Ovechkin's supreme dominance in the NHL, I heard the opinion that Ovi was one of those players whose career would eventually go only in one direction — down. And it sounded kind of logical.

Ovechkin is a unique "physics", Ovechkin is insane speed, Ovechkin is power and hundreds of the most brutal power techniques. This is not Datsyuk, Krosby or Larionov, whose best qualities hinted that the hockey player would be able to lose a lot in the level of play for a very, very long time.

Ovechkin did not have any dramatic stories on the way to star status in the NHL, like Kuznetsov, Panarin or Kucherov, all his childhood, youth and youth he went ahead and was the best wherever possible. But after a perfect five—year start, the fears began to be confirmed: Ovechkin was no longer a "Russian machine that never breaks down" - and it wasn't his body that was breaking, but his ability to be as effective as before.

It seems incredible now, but for almost a decade there has been no less criticism (and even outright hate) around Ovechkin than there has been positivity. From fans, journalists, and experts in Russia, the United States, and Canada. He scores fewer goals, has a bad plus or minus, doesn't work out defensively, fails in the playoffs, became too straightforward, and so on.

None of this could be called slander — and therefore, what Ovechkin was able to do is even more amazing. Ten years ago, no one was seriously talking about him overtaking Gretzky, because everyone predicted a schedule of 30-40 goals for him after the age of 30 — and that's at best. Five years ago, you could have dreamed of a record, but mathematics was against it. Surely he won't score 50 at the age of 38-39? Or should he spend a few more seasons in the league after 40?

And Ovechkin kept changing and rebuilding. Once upon a time, he simplified the game by turning into a pure sniper who waits for the moment to throw. It looked a little sad for fans of the young Ovi's game, but it helped both him and Washington, including in the championship season.

And Ovechkin is now probably the best 39-year-old forward in the history of the NHL (only Gordie Howe can argue), who, if not for an offensive injury, could have claimed the tenth Maurice Richard, a place in the top 10 best scorers, and, possibly, the nomination for the regular season MVP! And he moved on to some new, modernized stage of his hockey, in which his benefits for the team reached their maximum. Of course, the partners are also playing on Ovechkin and his record, but would all the other five Washington top-6 forwards have had the best seasons in their careers without his help?

Yes, many great masters change, but who did it the way Ovi did? At some points, he returned to his old self from the days of Dynamo and the first years in the NHL — a more versatile striker, who, of course, is a sniper above all, but this is not his only advantage.

Hockey talent, "physics", leadership qualities, charisma, self—confidence - Ovechkin has always had it all. But 895 washers would not have happened without the internal restructuring, which took many years and stages. And after all, this is not the end — today's goal is not the final point of an NHL career for a hockey-tired veteran, as we do with someone else.

The Stanley Cup is ahead, for which Washington is ready to really fight for the first time in many years. Both this season and the next, in which the team can only become stronger. There are 900 pucks ahead, or maybe 950? And one more achievement of the great Canadian, which has not yet been beaten, is goals not only in the regular season, but in general, taking into account the playoffs?

And most importantly, as of today, Wayne Gretzky's eternal sniper record is gone. There is a sniper record of Alexander Ovechkin!