Bruins’ David Pastrnak Sends Message To Alex Ovechkin After Record Goal

Congratulations came flowing in from the hockey world Sunday for Alex Ovechkin after the Washington Capitals star surpassed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

And Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak made sure to take his place in line to pay respect to Ovechkin.

Pastrnak, like many of his fellow NHL players, had a congratulatory message for Ovechkin once he set the record with his 895th career goal.

“It’s an incredible accomplishment. I’m so happy I could lace them up against you,” Pastrnak said, per team-provided video. “Watching you scoring all the goals, it’s been an amazing treat to my career as well to play against you. I will never forget about Game 1, when you lined up next to me and I was looking so up high for you. So happy for you. I don’t think anybody’s going to be beating you.”

Pastrnak being a terrific goal-scorer in his own right gives him a greater appreciation and understanding of what Ovechkin achieved.

But does Pastrnak have any chance of one day catching Ovechkin? It’s a massive long shot. Pastrnak, who turns 29 next month, enters Sunday’s contest against the Buffalo Sabres with 388 career goals. And despite notching a fourth consecutive season with at least 40 goals, Pastrnak would need to score at a minimum of 50 goals per season over the next 10 years to give himself a shot.

That further puts into perspective just how impressive a feat Ovechkin pulled off.