Alex Ovechkin's moving salute to Marc-Andre Fleury in his farewell season

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 28, 2025, 16:31 IST

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During a game where the Minnesota Wild beat the Washington Capitals 4-2, Alex Ovechkin honored the soon-to-retire Marc-Andre Fleury on ice. The Capitals lined up to shake hands with Fleury, acknowledging his 21-year career. Ovechkin, whose career is intertwined with Fleury's, organized the tribute, showcasing respect and sportsmanship between longtime rivals.

Alex Ovechkin's moving salute to Marc-Andre Fleury in his farewell season

Image Via Twitter

As the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Washington Capitals with a final score of 4-2, Ovechkin made sure that the night was not going to be solely about the game. Instead of rushing to the locker room, he gathered his teammates on the ice for a special moment honoring the soon-to-retire Marc-Andre Fleury and his 21-year-long career in professional hockey. The Capitals formed a line to shake hands with the iconic goaltender; it was a rare opportunity for one icon to pay tribute to another.
This moment, while not overly ceremonial, nonetheless served as an appropriate recognition of Fleury's mark on the game and on Ovechkin's own historic chase for the Gretzky mark of all time for NHL goals.

How Marc-Andre Fleury ruined Alex Ovechkin's record climb

Over his long career, Alex Ovechkin has scored 28 of his 889 career goals against Marc-Andre Fleury, the most against any goalie. Their fights have taken place over 47 games, with Fleury standing between Ovechkin and history more often than not. Even before their last set meeting in the 2024-25 season, Fleury joked about the number of "too many" goals Ovechkin would score against him.

Though Fleury was not playing in the Capitals vs. Wild game, Ovechkin still wanted to make sure the honor was due to him. The Capitals' captain went to his teammates before the end and set up the postgame handshake line. Dylan Strome later confirmed what Ovechkin was saying, explaining that he called Fleury, “Obviously, he’s one of the best goalies to ever play,” and stressed how important it is to respect greatness.
Also Read: Marc-André Fleury Reflects on Rivalry with Alex Ovechkin as Historic Goal Chase Unfolds
Alex Ovechkin's tribute to Marc-Andre Fleury displayed the respect that exists even between fierce competitors. The heartfelt send-off was not just a retirement salute for one goalie but also for respected careers that are tied together in shared history and battles. As Ovechkin gets closer to Wayne Gretzky's record, he took a moment to honor a worthy adversary who greatly influenced his development—an act of true sportsmanship that will forever remain etched in the hearts of fans.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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