Alexander Ovechkin was the first of the Russians to play a thousand matches for one NHL club

Alexander Ovechkin was the first of the Russian hockey players to play a thousand matches in the regular championships of the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the same team. In the anniversary game, his Washington won a bright and emotional victory over his principled enemy - Pittsburgh (3: 1).

Ovechkin turned out to be the seventh Russian and 319th league player, who managed to exceed this line. However, only 57 hockey players in the history of the League were able to do this as part of one club. The leader in the total number of meetings is the legendary Gordy Hou (1767).

In his thousand matches, Ovechkin scored 1118 (603+515) points. Throughout his career in the NHL, Alexander missed only 29 games and not a single one - from the 2015/16 championship.

The colorful ceremony in honor of the Russian captain of Washington will be held on Thursday before the next home game against Nashville, NHL.com reports.