Will Alexander Ovechkin break Sergei Fedorov's record on Tuesday?

There are a couple of good reasons to catch the contest between the Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The most obvious is, of course, the chance to watch history be made.

Washington forward Alex Ovechkin tied Sergei Fedorov’s goals-scored record on Saturday night. One more marker, and the Caps’ captain will hold the record for the most NHL goals scored by a Russian-born player. With the roll he has been on, there is little reason to doubt that he can hit the milestone at Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday.

Ovechkin scored his 483rd goal on a Capitals’ power play Saturday against  the Toronto Maple Leafs, a tilt that ended with Washington notching a 3-2 shootout victory. It looked like Ovechkin had broken the record in the final minutes of regulation but the goal was waved off for goaltender interference—a successful coach’s challenge for the Leafs’ Mike Babcock.

According to Capitals’ reporter Mike Vogel,  Fedorov had something to say about when Ovechkin broke his record:

“Alex Ovechkin held court for the media in the Washington locker room at Kettler on Saturday morning before the Capitals hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Verizon Center. One goal shy of tying Sergei Fedorov for the top spot all-time among Russian-born NHL goal scorers, Ovechkin was told that Fedorov wanted him to wait until Tuesday to break the record, because Fedorov will be honored by the Red Wings in Detroit that night.

 Asked whether he would hold off on breaking the record until the Caps visit the Motor City on Tuesday, Ovechkin replied with a playful smile, “My plan is to get three tonight, so we’ll see.””

Ovi did, in fact, find the back of the net three times on Saturday, including the disallowed goal and the shootout winner. So it’s fair to assume that he will deliver on Fedorov’s request to watch the record be broken on Tuesday.

It also makes sense why Fedorov wants to watch Ovechkin set the record in person. John Kreiser of NHL.com reminds us that "Fedorov finished his NHL career with the Capitals in 2008-09, and Ovechkin assisted on his 483rd goal."

The left winger hailing from Moscow, Russia has six points (three goals, three assists) in his last five games. He is in a tie for fifth place in the league with eight goals on the season.