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Blue Jackets goalie shows tremendous respect for Capitals captain
Photo credit: The Hockey Beast
Alex Ovechkin netted the Capitals' only goal across their back-to-back losses to Jet Greaves and the Blue Jackets this weekend. The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer tallied his 896th career goal a minute into Sunday's game, ripping a one-timer from the slot past Greaves to give Washington an early lead.
Despite getting scored on in the opening minute of Sunday's game, Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves has tremendous respect for Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin
Chris Cerullo of RMNB writes that the goal marked Ovechkin's first against the 24-year-old netminder in their very first game against each other. Greaves became goaltender number 184 that Ovechkin has scored on during his 20-season career, extending his NHL record.
Greaves spoke about the honor shortly after earning a 4-1 win against the Capitals.
«Yeah, I mean, obviously, it's cool. I grew up watching him as a kid, and obviously, he's the best goal-scorer of all time. So much respect for him, and his shot tonight was a great shot. It's unreal to be able to compete against the best players in the world.» -Greaves
Cerullo also writes that Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason gave Jet Greaves the rare opportunity to start on back-to-back days, made even more unusual by the fact that both games were against the same team.
"In those three games against the Eastern Conference-best Capitals, Greaves has been dominant. He has a 2-0-1 record, allowing just three goals on 89 total shots for a .967 save percentage." -Cerullo
Three of Greaves' nine NHL starts this season have been against the Capitals, but Ovechkin missed the first matchup in December due to his broken leg and sat out the second game on Saturday for rest.
Greaves has spent most of the season playing for the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, where he has posted a 21-11-6 record with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in 40 games.
"With his 29-save effort on Sunday, the Cambridge, Ontario native kept the Blue Jackets' slim NHL playoff hopes alive. If Columbus had lost in regulation to the Capitals, they would have been eliminated and sealed the second wild card position for the Montreal Canadiens." -Cerullo
The Canadiens still have a chance to eliminate the Blue Jackets with a single win in their final two games against either the Chicago Blackhawks or Carolina Hurricanes. Alternatively, two overtime or shootout losses by Columbus would also be enough to end their playoff hopes.
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AVRIL 14 | 49 ANSWERS Blue Jackets goalie shows tremendous respect for Capitals captain Do you think the Blue Jackets will make the playoffs this season? | ||
| yes | 11 | 22.4 % |
| no | 38 | 77.6 % |
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