If Ilya Sorokin had to surrender a record-breaking objective, it’s unlikely there’s anybody he’d slightly have been on the opposite facet of it than Alex Ovechkin.
In any case, he grew up watching Ovechkin, who broke into the NHL when Sorokin was simply 10.
They’ve performed collectively on the Russian nationwide staff, depend one another as mates and Sorokin even babysat Ovechkin’s youngsters on the All-Star Recreation in 2023.
So when Ovechkin requested for Sorokin’s stick in the course of the on-ice ceremony after breaking the all-time goal-scoring document on Sunday afternoon, after all Sorokin obliged.
“It was amazing,” Sorokin mentioned after the 4-1 win, which was nearly fully overshadowed by Objective No. 895 for Ovechkin. “After a win, I can say it was the primary time in my life they stopped a sport for twenty-four minutes [for the ceremony honoring Ovechkin]. Keep and assume, ‘How [to] play after this?’
“So it’s a big moment for all the hockey world. Congrats to Ovi and his family. He’s a big player. It’s unbelievable watching it.”
Sorokin mentioned he needed to flip his telephone off earlier than the sport, since individuals who hadn’t talked to him in a 12 months or two have been texting good luck.
“I feel today small part of pressure of what Ovi feels every day,” Sorokin mentioned. “So it’s crazy pressure, you see today. Every game, so many fans, Washington. It’s crazy. Happy for him.”
As for Ovechkin’s shot from the highest of the left circle, the 325th power-play objective of his profession, Sorokin by no means noticed it.
“Usually he [shoots] on left side,” Sorokin mentioned. “I don’t know why today he shot on short side.”
For all of the consternation about who would surrender the record-breaking objective and find yourself on the perpetually spotlight reel, Sorokin appeared utterly relaxed.
Ovechkin’s objective, in spite of everything, was the one shot he let into the web, stopping 27 of 28 in any other case.
“I think Ilya should feel good about himself,” coach Patrick Roy mentioned. “He played really well today. … Obviously we’re gonna see that goal a lot in the next few days, but after that, he should not feel bad about it at all. And I think Ilya’s a strong person, so he’ll be fine.”
Wayne Gretzky, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and FBI director Kash Patel visited the Islanders dressing room postgame for about 10 minutes.
“Just acknowledged our sportsmanship throughout the game,” Marc Gatcomb mentioned of No. 99. “Just a class act guy. Just saying how he handled it and stuff like that.”
