Ovechkin deserves NHL goal-scoring record with Capitals, Fleury says

WASHINGTON --Marc-Andre Fleury was in an unfamiliar position sitting on the bench watching someone else try to stop Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals during the Minnesota Wild's 4-2 win at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.

No NHL goalie has played more regular-season games against Ovechkin than Fleury's 44. And no goalie has allowed more goals to Ovechkin, who has scored 25 of his 810 against his longtime foe.
"I don't know if I'm too proud of that," Fleury said, grinning.
It was backup Filip Gustavsson's turn to start Tuesday, though, with Fleury likely to start the Wild's next game at the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW). So Fleury rooted Gustavssson on while he made 34 saves, including three on Ovechkin to prevent him from moving closer to Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals.
Still, it felt strange for Fleury to be a spectator after so many battles with Ovechkin and the Capitals during his 19 NHL seasons, including the first 13 with the rival Pittsburgh Penguins before stints with the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Wild.
Fleury is 14-8-3 with a 2.86 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and one shutout for Minnesota this season
"I like being here," Fleury said. "The atmosphere is always good, and facing him is, obviously, a big challenge. You want to stop him."
So, it might be surprising to learn that, like his former Penguins teammate and good friend Sidney Crosby, Fleury is rooting for Ovechkin to catch Gretzky and break the goal record. He, obviously, doesn't want it to happen against him.
"I think he deserves it," Fleury said. "He's been doing this for a long time and consistently every season, so hopefully he gets to Gretzky."
Having faced Ovechkin so often, Fleury isn't surprised that he continues to score at an elite level in his 18th NHL season. The 37-year-old left wing became the third player to reach 800 NHL goals with a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 13 and passed Gordie Howe (801 goals) for second in NHL history by scoring No. 802 against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 23.
With 30 goals in 47 games this season, Ovechkin tied Mike Gartner for the NHL record with his 17th 30-goal season and is on pace to finish with 52. It would be the 10th time Ovechkin scored at least 50 goals to break the NHL record he shares with Gretzky and Mike Bossy. Ovechkin could also pass Gretzky (12) for the most 40-goal seasons in NHL history.

"He's never slowed down," Fleury said. "He doesn't miss games. Every season, he's consistent scoring goals and his shot is still amazing. He can shoot that one-timer so hard."
Although Ovechkin has victimized him on those 25 goals, Fleury has had his share of success against him and the Capitals. Third in NHL history with 534 wins, Fleury is 26-14-2 with a 2.65 GAA, .911 save percentage and four shutouts against Ovechkin and Washington.
Fleury was on the winning side with the Penguins in three Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Capitals in 2009, 2016 (when he was injured) and 2017 and went on to win the Stanley Cup each time. His memorable glove save on Ovechkin's breakaway chance in the first period of Game 7 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals sparked Pittsburgh to a 6-2 victory in the deciding game of that best-of-7 series in Washington.
Fleury also made a save with the shaft of his stick on Ovechkin's one-timer from the slot in the second period of a 2-0 victory in Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Second Round.
Ovechkin has had his moments against Fleury as well, including scoring a goal for his 1,000th NHL point in a 5-2 win against Pittsburgh on Jan. 11, 2017. Ovechkin and the Capitals also defeated Fleury and the Golden Knights in five games in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final to win their first championship. He had five points (three goals, two assists).
"It's still good memories walking in the building, skating out," Fleury said. "I've had some good battles with them, some fun battles. It was fun the rivalry with Pittsburgh, with obviously Sid and Ovi, but it was high-scoring, always fun, good battles. Every night, you were in for a good game."
In addition to the competition, Fleury enjoys interacting with Ovechkin during games. It's mostly friendly, but with a little trash talk going both ways.
"Sometimes he'll come and say 'Hi,'" said Fleury, who won the 2021 Vezina Trophy voted as the top goalie in the NHL. "He'll say 'Hi' or 'Oh, I almost got you. I'm going to get you on the next one.' And I'm like, 'No way. You're not getting [anything].' It's funny, though. I like how he does it."
Yet, Fleury passed on a chance to become teammates with Ovechkin last season when the Blackhawks were looking to move him before the NHL Trade Deadline because he was a potential unrestricted free agent, and the Capitals were exploring acquiring a veteran goalie. The Blackhawks promised not to trade Fleury without his approval and the 38-year-old preferred not to join the Capitals, eventually accepting a deal to the Wild instead.
"I wouldn't say I wasn't interested," Fleury said. "From what I've heard, they have a great organization. They have a lot of good players, a lot of talent, a good city and all that. But, I don't know. To me, it was just weird because, I don't know, they were like the enemy for so long."
Fleury signed a two-year, $7 million contract to remain with Minnesota on July 7 and Washington signed Darcy Kuemper to a five-year, $26.25 million contract to be its No. 1 goalie July 13. So it appears the door for Fleury and Ovechkin to play on the same team is closed.
But Fleury looks forward to his next opportunity to face Ovechkin, which could come when the Capitals visit the Wild on March 19.
"I like to play against him," he said. "I think he brings the best out of you."