Marc-Andre Fleury and Alex Ovechkin have been going back and forth at each other during almost 20 years in the NHL. The former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender enjoyed great wins over the Washington Capitals‘ superstar, but it wasn’t always pretty for the three-time Stanley Cup winning goalie when facing the Russian goalscoring machine. As Ovi moved within five goals of Wayne Gretzky’s goals record, ‘Flower’ issued a bold confession.
After one of the most memorable goaltending careers in the NHL, Fleury is hanging the pads and skates following the 2024-25 campaign. It’s been one heck of a ride, with no regrets for the 40-year-old icon.
Ovechkin isn’t retiring just yet, but the 39-year-old is also in the twilight of his playing career, though his performances and statlines indicate otherwise. Amid a historic chase for the NHL scoring record, held by none other than Gretzky, Ovi is defying father time, trailing ‘The Great’s’ 894 goals by just five tallies. Six more goals, and the record is all but his.
It’s only a matter of time before NHL fans witness history unfold before their eyes. While Ovechkin rightfully deserves all the credit, Fleury humorously admitted that he, too, deserves some recognition for his role in the milestone.
Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Capital One Arena on March 1, 2024 in Washington, DC.
“I think I gave him a bit of a boost,” Fleury admitted during an interview with NHL.com. “‘Ovi’ scored a lot of goals against me. I know I’m the one he’s scored the most goals against. But on the flip side, I’m happy to have played so many games against him. There was such a great rivalry with the Caps and with Ovi.”
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Two sides to the story
The Capitals and Penguins are fierce Metropolitan Division rivals, and during the 2000s and 2010s both franchises lived through some of their best years in franchise history, leading to electric matchups year after year. Ovechkin scored a grand total of 28 goals past Fleury during their careers.
However, while the number may suggest Ovi’s dominance over ‘Flower,’ it also speaks volumes about Fleury’s longevity. He played at such a high level for so many years that he was consistently trusted to start in net whenever Ovechkin lined up on the other end of the ice.
Former Edmonton Oilers forward Wayne Gretzky greets fans during the closing ceremonies at Rexall Place following the game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks on April 6, 2016 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Fleury believes Ovechkin won’t have to wait until next season
With 11 games remaining in the season, Ovechkin needs six more goals to reach a milestone once thought to be untouchable in Gretzky’s domain. If he falls short of the 895-goal mark this season, he will almost certainly achieve it during the 2025-26 campaign, his final year under contract in Washington.
“I think he’s going to break the record this year,” Fleury firmly stated. “He reminds me of young Ovi. He’s really hungry, he wants to score goals. He’s so happy after his goals. Without his injury, he would’ve finished the season with 50 goals, it’s incredible. He always plays with his foot on the gas, he’s a tremendous competitor. He’s still as dangerous as ever at 39 years old. He missed several games with a broken leg, but he hasn’t slowed down since his return. He’s still on fire.“
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One last dance
Fleury and Ovechkin’s careers have crossed paths time and again, with both always eager to settle the score whenever the puck bounced the other way. In the past, they knew another battle awaited down the road—but this time, they’ve actually reached the end of the road.
Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild makes a save against the Calgary Flames in the second period at Xcel Energy Center on January 25, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota.
As the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals face off one last time in the regular season, there’s no guarantee of another chance to gain the upper hand—unless fate aligns for a Stanley Cup Final showdown.
SurveyWhen will Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky\'s NHL goals record?
When will Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky\'s NHL goals record?
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One last time: Fleury vs. Ovechkin, for bragging rights. On March 27, the Capitals will step into Xcel Energy Center to face the Wild. After more than 19 seasons of fierce battles and epic playoff showdowns, the ‘Flower’ and the ‘Great 8’ will finally have their last showdown.
