{"id":691034,"date":"2026-06-08T04:58:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T04:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/691034\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T04:58:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T04:58:07","slug":"nicklas-backstrom-names-his-favorite-assist-on-an-alex-ovechkin-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/691034\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicklas Backstrom names his favorite assist on an Alex Ovechkin goal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nicklas Backstrom\u2019s favorite apple on an Alex Ovechkin<\/a> goal came on the same day of his favorite moment with his longtime running mate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Backstrom made his pick while filming a video for the Capitals\u2019 social media last year, as he followed the team hoping to see Ovechkin break the NHL goals record.<\/p>\n

@capitals<\/a> <\/p>\n

Nicky\u2019s favorite assist on an Ovi goal? You can probably guess \ud83d\ude0d #stanleycup<\/a> #ovi<\/a> #ovechkin<\/a> #sauce<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 Washington Capitals<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite assist to an Ovi goal is Game 5 against Vegas in the Stanley Cup Finals, 2018,\u201d Backstrom said. \u201cI remember it was on the power play, so I was walking up and down the half wall on the power play, and Ovi was located the back door. Cross-ice. I think maybe I sauced it over two different players and just landed perfectly at his stick. When I threw the pass, I didn\u2019t know it was that nice. It looks way better on slo-mo after, but I think why too is my favorite assist, the type of game it was, and how important that goal was.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ovechkin goal, which came on a one-timer, came 10:14 into the second period of Game 5, beating Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury over the right pad.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The goal was one of four the Capitals scored in their Stanley Cup-clinching game in Las Vegas\u2019 T-Mobile Arena. Jakub Vrana, Devante Smith-Pelly, and Lars Eller also found the back of the net in the 4-3 Game 5 victory.<\/p>\n

The assist marked Backstrom\u2019s 18th and final assist during that championship run. The Swedish centerman posted 23 points \u2014 third-most in the NHL postseason that year \u2014 in 20 games.<\/p>\n

The Capitals\u2019 Stanley Cup championship came after the Ovechkin and Backstrom-led team made the playoffs in nine of the previous 10 seasons, but never advanced past the second round of the postseason. The Caps had captured three Presidents\u2019 Trophies during that span as the NHL\u2019s best regular-season team, but could never get over the hump until that season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a pretty special moment when we won together,\u201d Backstrom said<\/a>. \u201cWe realized that. But back then, that hug was, to people outside, I think it looked like a happy moment. It was more like a relief, I think, for both of us. And just be like, finally we got it done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Backstrom finished his career assisting on 279 of Ovechkin\u2019s 929 career goals<\/a>, the most of any other player.<\/p>\n

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