Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, who's closing in on the NHL's all-time goals record, stopped teammates from leaving the ice until they shook hands with Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who ranks second all time in goalie wins and intends to retire after the season. The Capitals lined up everyone to shake Fleury's hand after the game.

Fleury, who’s in his 21st and assuredly final season in the league, was on the home bench all night while Filip Gustavsson manned the net.

Part of what makes Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record so compelling is that the two players are polar opposites in some ways yet stunningly similar in others.

Heritage Auctions will open an auction Monday morning of 11 game-worn sweaters from some of hockey’s greats—including three Alex Ovechkin jerseys for collectors who may be seeking to add some of the star’s memorabilia to their collection ahead of his breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals mark.

Raised in Moscow within the Soviet sports system by parents who were accomplished athletes, Alex Ovechkin was given every chance to succeed at hockey and along the way showed he didn’t need special treatment.