It’s a full-circle moment for Ovechkin, whose NHL career officially started in the same building -- it was called the RBC Center at the time -- at the 2004 NHL Draft. Ross Mahoney, who was Washington's director of amateur scouting at the time Ovechkin was selected No. 1, remembers.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin didn't get closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record on Thursday night, and his biggest moment came after the final horn. Following Washington’s 4–2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, the Capitals captain ran toward the tunnel and called his teammates back onto the ice to form a handshake line.

Fleury, who’s in his 21st and assuredly final season in the league, was on the home bench all night while Filip Gustavsson manned the net.

Barry Trotz on how Ovechkin has continued to evolve as opponents adjust to him: "He could take hard coaching, and that’s very, very unique."

Fleury plans to retire after this, his 21st NHL season, though, So unless Gustavsson doesn’t finish the game Thursday, the 40-year-old likely won’t face Ovechkin again, barring a meeting between the Wild (40-27-5) and Capitals (47-15-9) in the Stanley Cup Final this season.