NHL history has woven a peculiar bond between Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak, two elite scorers whose paths crossed in the pursuit of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy during the 2019-20 season. Both players shared the award after scoring 48 goals, a moment that Pastrnak remembers with special affection.
That season marked the first time in a decade that the award was shared, recalling the feats of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steven Stamkos in 2009-10, when they each scored 51 goals.
Ovechkin, a nine-time Rocket Richard Trophywinner, is now on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. His 890th goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday moved him closer to Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals, generating buzz ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Bruins.
“I always said I was so much happier to, honestly, win the Rocket Richard with him than alone,” Pastrnak said Tuesday, according to NHL.com. “And that’s true, honest speaking, that I was much happier that we shared it together. It was 10 times better than winning it alone and having him behind me. The only bad thing is you can say you beat him, but I’d rather share it with him. That was special.”
Ovechkin’s legacy: Consistency and admiration
Pastrnak, who won the Rocket Richard Trophy outright in 2022-23 with 61 goals—though he finished behind Connor McDavid’s 64—has immense admiration for Ovechkin’s goal-scoring ability.
“It’s very, very impressive,“ Pastrnak said of Ovechkin. “Obviously, we all know how hard it is to score in this league, and he’s been doing it for over two decades. The way he found a way every year—he scores different goals. You obviously see way fewer one-timer goals from him, guys taking it away, and he still found a way. So, it’s impressive. It’s motivational to see him keep scoring all those goals. Definitely a special goal-scorer. He’s going to break it soon.”
Pastrnak, with 383 career NHL goals, ranks fourth in goal-scoring since the 2016-17 season, behind Ovechkin (365), Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers (377), and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs (397).
The 28-year-old remembers watching Ovechkin play for Russia, one of the few ways he could see the best hockey players from his native Czech Republic. “I watched him a lot growing up,” Pastrnak said. “All the national teams, right? For a kid, it’s hard to follow the NHL. I know he represented his country every time. From early ages, you kind of knew about him, and you saw all these highlight-reel goals. He is still a special player to follow and watch his highlights.”
Pastrnak on Ovechkin’s physicality
Beyond Ovechkin’s goal-scoring prowess, Pastrnak admires his physicality. “I always loved his physicality,” Pastrnak said. “Obviously, he’s a big, heavy guy (6-foot-3, 238 pounds). … When the best player like him on your team brings that, that carries a long way for your team. That’s what I admire about him, outside of all his goals.”