Alexander Ovechkin scored on Marc Andre Fleury for the first time on on January 25th of 2006. Between then and today, as he chases down Wayne Gretzky’s all time goal record, he has scored a total of 28 of his 880 goals against Fleury who finds himself at the top of the list of Ovechkin most frequent victims. This is of course in large part to how often they faced each other during that great Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals rivalry over the years but last night as the Capitals visited the Minnesota Wild, with Fleury retiring at the end of this season, it marked what will very likely be the final time Ovechkin faced off against Fleury. Now while Fleury didn’t get the start, what we saw at the end of the final buzzer was pure class. As the Capitals were already half way down the tunnel, Alexander Ovechkin chased them down and called them back out to line up to give the Flower a proper send off. All of the Capitals including staff came out to shake hands with Fleury in what was truly a class act. As for the game, the Wild played a solid game and picked up a massive two points. I cover it all and more in todays NHL hockey video!
@Washington Capitals
46 Comments
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Amazing
Blues fan here. I love how Fleury is one of the few players that every hockey fan respects, regardless of what team they root for. He's an amazing goalie and an even better man.
The Flower had some epic battles against Ovi and the Caps, very classy move to honor him! Just a suggestion, but prior to the end of his farewell tour a video highlighting the epic Flower Pranks might be fun!
I remember watching all my childhood hero's retire in the late 90s/early 00s and now I am watching another generation of greats call it a career. Man, I'm old.
W Vid, Kepp up the work
Absolute class by ovi real recognizes real
Ovi is the definition of a Captain
Ovi's a true leader ❤
Stupid ovi never not better GOAT's Wayne
two class acts
There’s an era ending and beginning
I hope ovi passes gretzkys goal record this season
Such a class act. I love this sport!
THIS! This is what i love about hockey. The camaraderie, the respect, the honor, and the appreciation that most players have for each other. In recent years, this honor has been fading, but it was always what i loved most about the sport. In the same day, you can go from trying to violently crush your opponent to a few hours later, y'all are having beers together…
So what that Ovi scored his most goals against MAF. They played against each other for 13 seasons (edit: 20 seasons (ty, luk)). For much of that time, they played in the same division. I think that would be expected.
Congrats, Fluery. You've been an amazing representative of the sport. You will be missed!
Also a life long Pens fan, I remember every Stanley cup. That being said I’ve really learned to love Ovi. Class act and the absolute definition of a captain.
Was watching this as a Wild fan and applauded when Ovi did that at the end of the game. Nothing but respect for the man, that's a player we want breaking records
So wholesome❤❤
I don’t even watch or know about hockey(being from Hawaii) BUT……
MADD RESPECT FOR THIS OVI GUY💯🤙🏾
Chicken Skin Moment💯🙏
The only thing better would have been if Fleury started and Ovi was able to get 29 goals against 29
Best nhl rivalry ever Pens versus Caps
Detroit fan living in STL cheering for the Blues here…Seeing Ovi and Fleury getting the love and attention they deserve is great. I think Fleury should be getting celebrated and sent off by every team when it's their last match against him this season. Let the man go out with love.
God I love hockey
This…this is why I despise players like Marchand, Trouba (even though I'm a life-long Rangers fan), Wilson, even Ovi himself. Fleury proves you don't have to be a douche bag to be great. A player can respect others and still be respected.
OVI is a class act…… competitors Flower …….greatness unmatched.
no disrespect to the capitals players who walked off immediately to the locker room, most likely adrenaline pumped + losing, you just want to get out of there. Good on ovi for reminding them to come back, too. There’s been debate on the “retirement tour” aspect thru sports, when should someone announce retirement, etc. this is one of the better ways to do it. Save it for after the game. Also it’s almost the end of the season. Nice to show some class why not🙏
At the end of the game, it seemed the Caps paid more respect to Fleury than did the Wild … you see after the Caps line was through giving him respect, he was trying to shake hands with the Wild players and they didn't show him a lick of anything. Maybe they are getting tired of it? Caps = class … Wild = ass.
Been done before
You could say…have gave him his…flowers…
All hail Flower!
Marc-Andre Fleury is one of those players that you like regardless of what team you are a fan of.
One of the most likable characters ever in hockey and a Putinist asshole.
Seeing this and thinking “what did the silly guy do this time”
Flower represents a ton of different levels. He is a true player. He does whatever he can for his team. Never blames or points a finger. Never a bad thing to say in the media or with reporters. He gives back to charities and is always willing to talk or sign something for a kid. He is a great guy to have in the room, he's funny and he makes you laugh. He is the definition of a good teammate. He put up some wicked numbers in a time when the NHL was really all about goal scored, not saved. Good luck Flower
I remember Marc’s first game. Now hrs retiring. Man how time flies by so fast.
Fleury is the only non bruins player I have a jersey for, nothing but respect for him and I even wore 29 in my playing days bc of him
Only way they meet again is if both teams make the Stanley Cup final
As a leafs fan, I gotta say I love the guy. He got Mike Babcock fired!
Just did a little napkin math. Ovi is sitting at very nearly .6 goals per game career average and if you multiply that into the 47 times he's played against Fleury… just over 28 expected goals. Sounds about right.
Pens fan for almost 40 years. Hated Ovi for a while because of the rivalry but always respected his game. Over time, things like this made me respect him as a person too.
Ovi is nothing short of a class act. Applauded Price when he made a spectacular save and then makes sure all his teammates need to come back and honour Fluery
Imagine the day he retires is gonna be like the saddest thing ever respect to number 29 forever and ever
Great 8 understands the magnitude of a career which is not dissimilar to his own. Both are automatic HHOF inductees.
I recall many years ago when the KHL was trying to lure Ovechkin with a obscene value contact. He responded by saying the money was fine, but why would he want to leave the best league in the world. As the LIV Golf guys learn, money doesn’t buy popularity or integrity. Additionally, the value to sponsors of someone playing outside of North America is limited, depending on the sport.
January 25th 2006. That was the day I was born. That’s crazy I was born when Ovi scored on Fleury for the first time.
Ovi is class.
And that list at 0:56…wow. The three goalies Gr8 has scored against. That's a list of some real greats there.
Of all of "my" goalies whom I've cheered for, I'm going to miss MAF the most. I'm in tears at every tribute. And laugh at every prank. No one can replace him.