Ovechkin played a nondescript match in a “special place” and received a standing ovation

Captain “Washington Capitals” Alexander Ovechkin was not marked by effective actions in a guest match with the current winner of the Stanley Cup “Carolina Hurricanes” (2: 4).

He spent on the ice playing time at the level of the third link - just 13 minutes 2 seconds, of which 2:31 - in most. 41-year-old Russian was invisible on the court — for the game made only two shots, none of which reached the goal, the utility index was “0”.

This is one of the worst indicators of playing time in the Russian career. In the opening meeting of the season, the capital team also played with Carolina, then Ovechkin broke his personal record for playing time - 12:46.

Before last season, Ovechkin spent no more than 13 minutes per game a season. This happened four times last year.

Prior to the 2023/24 season, he had only spent less than 14 minutes on the ice three times in the NHL.

For Ovechkin, the last match was in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina. The Russian before the game called this place important for himself, since the 2004 draft was held at the Carolina Hurricanes Arena, where he was selected as the first number. “I have such wonderful memories here, chosen first overall. This is a special place for me, the Washington Capitals captain said before the meeting.

In the commercial break of the starting period, the stands of the Carolina Arena gave Ovechkin a standing ovation.

In six games of the season on account of the Russian goal and assist. He is nine goals away from repeating Wayne Gretzky's record for playoff-adjusted goals of 1,016. He is also three assists away from Washington's record for this indicator.

This season for the 41-year-old will be his last. In July, he signed a one-year contract. The NHL called a series of recent trips Ovechkin in the cities of the NHL clubs “farewell tour”, which the Russian began in Raleigh. The next city will be Nashville (October 30). The tour ends on April 11 in Philadelphia.