Backstrom quietly enjoying journey to 1,000 points for Capitals

CALGARY --Nicklas Backstrom has spent much of his 15 NHL seasons with the Washington Capitals skating on the fringes of a spotlight often focused on Alex Ovechkin.

So it's no surprise Backstrom shrugs off that he's been flying under the radar again while approaching 1,000 NHL points, mostly because Ovechkin is closing in on Jaromir Jagr for third on the NHL goals list.
"What are you going to do about it?" Backstrom said. "I'm probably the first guy who is happy for him, for 'Ovi,' for all his achievements. I'm happy about my achievements too, but I'm not screaming about them."
But Backstrom's upcoming achievement is worthy of it. With 997 points (262 goals, 735 assists) in 1,035 games, the center heads into Tuesday at the Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) three from becoming the 93rd NHL player to score 1,000.
Backstrom will be the sixth Sweden-born player to reach the milestone, joining Mats Sundin (1,349), Daniel Alfredsson (1,157), Nicklas Lidstrom (1,142), Henrik Sedin (1,070) and Daniel Sedin (1,041). He'll be the second player to score 1,000 points with the Capitals.
Behind Ovechkin (1,388), of course.
"I think it will be fun when I'm there," Backstrom said. "Obviously, it's one of the bigger milestones to have and I've been kind of looking forward to getting to it. It will be an honor when I'm doing it."
Ovechkin appreciates Backstrom's accomplishments, and his value as a player, as much as anyone. Backstrom has played a large role in Ovechkin scoring 764 goals, two behind Jagr (766) for third, by assisting on 274 of them.
"I think in the hockey world everyone knows who Nicklas Backstrom is," Ovechkin said. "He's a tremendous athlete with his skills, his hockey sense, his IQ. He's on top. I'm really lucky to have him through almost all of my career. We've been together for a long time, so I'm very happy for him."
Backstrom and Ovechkin will achieve a milestone together when they play their 1,000th NHL regular-season game as teammates Tuesday. According to NHL Stats, they will be the ninth set of teammates to reach that number, following Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio (1,353 games with the Detroit Red Wings), the Sedins (1,276 with the Vancouver Canucks), Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar (1,148 with the Los Angeles Kings), Lidstrom and Kris Draper (1,107 with the Red Wings), Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook (1,069 with the Chicago Blackhawks), Bob Gainey and Larry Robinson (1,058 with the Montreal Canadiens), George Armstrong and Tim Horton (1,026 games the Toronto Maple Leafs) and Mark Messier and Kevin Lowe (1,007 with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers).
"It's cool," Ovechkin said. "It's not many players play together 1,000 games and it's good for us, it's good for the organization, good for the fans."
Ovechkin and Backstrom helped the Capitals qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs 13 times in their first 14 seasons as teammates and were instrumental to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
"The organization has been fortunate to have two character people and high-skilled people that complement each other as well as they two do," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. "Personality-wise, on and off the ice, their skill sets are a perfect match for each other. 'Nick,' the playmaker. Nick is more quiet, reserved, and Ovi is the opposite -- goal-scorer, finisher, more extroverted."
Though Ovechkin also has had a hand in Backstrom's success by assisting on 106 of his 262 goals, the duo's dynamic has been Ovechkin as finisher and Backstrom as passer from the moment Ovechkin, subbing for then general manager George McPhee, stepped to the podium at the 2006 NHL Draft in Vancouver and announced Washington had selected Backstrom with the No. 4 pick.
"It's a team sport and we're all trying to help each other to get better," Backstrom said.
Backstrom excels at helping others score. Since the 34-year-old made his NHL debut in 2007, no player has more than his 735 assists. He led the NHL with 60 assists in 2014-15, among his five seasons with at least 60.
Backstrom has done most of it quietly. He was voted to 2007-08 NHL All-Rookie Team after scoring 69 points (14 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games and selected for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, but individual accolades have otherwise eluded him.
Not that Backstrom ever complained.
"I think that's kind of the way Nick likes it," Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said. "He's not a guy that likes the spotlight, per se. He likes to shine the light kind of on other guys and that's probably why he's such an unselfish teammate and such a great passer. I think he enjoys getting other guys goals."
Backstrom was one of the Capitals' best players last season, leading them with 53 points and 38 assists in 55 games, but a lingering left hip injury caused him to miss the first 28 games this season. He also missed two games while in NHL COVID-19 protocol and another three with the flu, further delaying his pursuit of the 1,000-point plateau.
But Backstrom has played in 21 straight games since Jan. 10 and has scored 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 24 games this season.
"It is what it is with injuries and stuff," Backstrom said. "I'm just very fortunate that I can still play and reach milestones. But this is just a side milestone, even if it's a big one. It's not where I put my mind at.
"I want to reach other goals for the team."
Although the Capitals (30-18-9) have struggled with consistency the past two months, they have a 10-point lead on the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Having a healthy Backstrom back at the top of his game would boost Washington's postseason chances, but he and the team have some work to do before them.
"He just keeps doing his thing," Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. "He never wants the attention. He always is putting it on teammates. He's always pushing other people and friends and teammates to the forefront, to the limelight… It's hard to find nowadays, those truly loyal, humble people and Nick is one of those."