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Budweiser Sends Gift to Goalies Alex Ovechkin Never Scored On

Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin has made history, but those who made it tough for him are getting a nice gift for their efforts.

Nick Horwat

Apr 6, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) poses with the puck as he celebrates after scoring a goal in the 2nd period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The goal is the 895th of Ovechkin’s career, breaking the NHL all-time career goals record previously held by Wayne Gretzky at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Apr 6, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) poses with the puck as he celebrates after scoring a goal in the 2nd period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The goal is the 895th of Ovechkin’s career, breaking the NHL all-time career goals record previously held by Wayne Gretzky at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin made history by becoming the greatest goal scorer the NHL has ever seen. With his 895th career goal, the Capitals captain surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history, a record once thought untouchable.

Ovechkin scored his record-breaking goal on New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin, a goalie he had never scored on to that point. Up until goal 895, Sorokin was in elite company as one of the very few goalies Ovechkin has faced and never scored on.

Crossing Sorokin off of shortened that list to just 28 goalies, and Budweiser found a fun way to celebrate that small group. Judging by a tweet by former NHL great Curtis Joseph, Budweiser has sent each goalie a special can of non-alcoholic beer in a commemorative box.

“ZERO of 895” can be seen printed on the inside of the box, and Joseph noted he was “feeling lucky to have NOT been part of” the historic achievement.

Joseph and Ovechkin’s paths crossed one time in March of 2009 as Joseph was nearing the end of his 19-year NHL career. As a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the age of 41, Joseph stopped two shots from Ovechkin in a Maple Leafs shootout win.

Ironically, Joseph didn’t even start that game, and Ovechkin scored against Maple Leafs starter Martin Gerber. Joseph was forced to enter the game due to Gerber being given a game misconduct for abuse of an official.

Had it not been for Gerber briefly losing his cool late in the third period, Joseph never would have faced Ovechkin. Joseph made two saves on Ovechkin in his 5:57 of ice time, then added an uncredited save on Ovechkin in the shootout.

Ovechkin has scored on 183 goalies in his career. Joseph and 27 others have faced Ovechkin, but never allowed a goal, and they’ve earned a fun treat from Budweiser.

Former Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers goalie holds the distinction as the goalie to have stopped the most shots from Ovechkin without being scored on with 25 saves in nine games against.

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Nick Horwat
NICK HORWAT

Nick Horwat is a contributor with Breakaway On SI. He was previously a credentialed reporter for The Hockey News covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A Pittsburgh native, Nick graduated from Point Park University and started reporting on news and sports with KDKA Radio and 93.7 The Fan. After hosting a Penguins talk radio show in college, he morphed the show into a podcast. The Tip of the Ice-Burgh Podcast has been a leading Penguins podcast since 2019. Follow him on Twitter @NickHorwat41.

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