If Alex Ovechkin played his final NHL game April 14 at Nationwide Arena, he avoided most of the hoopla about it.
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A sizable contingent of Washington Capitals fans attended, many lining the glass in the lower bowl wearing Ovechkin jerseys, and they chanted his nickname, “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!” along with pleas to continue his NHL career as the final minutes ticked away.
The Blue Jackets milled around in front of their bench before giving their fans a season-ending salute, possibly waiting to shake Ovechkin’s hand, but “The Great 8” left quickly after acknowledging Capitals fans.
“I will say I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Ovechkin said. “The fans who came here from (Washington, D.C.) and from different spots to watch the game, it was very nice. I could hear them cheering for me and, ‘One more year,’ so that’s important too. It shows lots of respect, so thanks for the support.”
Nobody knew if it was the last time he would skate for an NHL team, so the Capitals did everything they could to get the league’s all-time leading goal scorer one more for the road.
Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates prior to a game against the Blue Jackets on April 14.
Leading the Blue Jackets 2-1 late in a largely forgettable game between playoff also-rans, Ovechkin, 40, finally got the puck with the Columbus net empty. He chugged up the right wing, the Jackets slid over to force an early attempt and the puck slid outside the right post.
Ovechkin, a pending free agent, settled for a secondary assist on Jakob Chychrun’s winning goal. Will that become the final attempt of his NHL career?
Don’t expect an answer soon. Ovechkin plans to go through his player exit interview with Capitals management, as usual, and head back to Russia with his family in May. He has no idea whether his NHL future will be decided by that point or not.
Fans appeal for another season for Capitals star Alex Ovechkin at Nationwide Arena on April 14.
Asked his thoughts about going out with an assist on a winning goal, Ovechkin smiled and shrugged in his red knit hat. He also wore a tattered red Capitals hoodie that said “Well, I’m not Michael Jordan,” on the back.
“It’s pretty cool,” Ovechkin said. “We tried to win. We tried to finish a season on a good note. I hope it’s not my last game. I don’t know what’s going to happen, so … we’ll see.”
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin unsure on NHL future