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There’s no logic to the NHL scheduling matrix, so its best not to even ponder why the Islanders and Capitals — whose shared history includes decades as division rivals as well as eight memorable playoff series against one another — could oppose each other just once in the first 75 games of this season yet twice in the final seven games, both at UBS Arena.
But the randomness of the matrix really worked out this time, which allowed for an extended appreciation of how everything went right when Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record at UBS Arena last Sunday — and how everything could go right again tonight, when the Islanders host the Capitals in their final home game of the season.
Capitals fans would have preferred Ovechkin break the record at home, a sentiment almost surely shared by Ovechkin and everyone within the organization. But collecting the milestone goal 250 or so miles north on I-95 at least gave fans with a little bit of foresight and/or a lot of disposable income the opportunity to still see history in person.
The Islanders were also the perfect opponent against whom Ovechkin could break the record. Only two of the aforementioned playoff clashes have happened this century, so Tom Wilson excepted, the history between the teams is more of the yellowed pages variety.
In another example of the quirky NHL scheduling matrix, the Capitals played the Hurricanes — the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division and the Capitals’ potential opponent in a second-round playoff series — twice in four games over an eight-day span that ended last Thursday, when the Capitals played their first game since the record-breaker. (Also, let’s hear it for the schedule-maker providing three days off immediately after the milestone goal for Ovechkin, who is known to enjoy a hearty celebration or two)
Ovechkin moved within two goals of tying Gretzky by collecting the Capitals’ lone goal in a 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Apr. 2. But the game was better known for turning into a fracas-filled free-for-all in which there were two fights and 142 penalty minutes assessed. Imagine the potential awkwardness if Ovechkin was still tied with Gretzky entering the rematch in Washington. D.C.
With the Islanders seven points out of the wild card spot entering play last Sunday, there was never a real chance of a playoff rematch later this month — which also meant there was also no need to worry about the awkwardness of celebrating a rival whose record-breaking feat might cost the Islanders a playoff spot, a la the Cubs with Mark McGwire in 1998. (Just ask Steve Trachsel how he felt about that)
Nor, with Ilya Sorokin being a fellow Russian and well-known for his laid-back demeanor, did the Islanders have to fret about how he’d react to being on the other side of history, a la the Padres with Eric Show even before he gave up Pete Rose’s 4,192nd hit on Sept. 11, 1985.
“The story works out well for us — it’s cool to be a part of it,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “Just a really cool evening in terms of the bigger picture of what this game is all about and the accomplishments that he’s had.”
Indeed, as neat as it was for the Islanders to witness history, nobody needed an afternoon like last Sunday quite like the NHL, which has managed to commit more foolish, brand-tarnishing errors than any other North American sports league (though Major League Baseball sure seems interested in wresting away that “title”).
Gary Bettman’s tenure as commissioner has included three lockouts, including one immediately after the Rangers’ Stanley Cup win in 1994 — when interest in the NHL was at an unprecedented high — and another one that resulted in the cancellation of the 2004-05 season. A mini-dynasty by the Blackhawks, who won three Stanley Cups in a six-season span from 2010 through 2015, was forever tarnished by the team’s role in covering up the sexual assault of prospect Kyle Beach and criticism of the NHL’s investigation.
Given their connections to polarizing world figures, Ovechkin’s march towards Gretzky was also fraught with potential peril. But there were no self-inflicted wounds last Sunday.
Gretzky disarmed a capacity crowd and the hundreds of thousands tuning in on television by noting he appreciated the record was broken at UBS Arena and not Nassau Coliseum “…because I lost a lot of games there,” where the Islanders locked up their most recent Stanley Cup with a win over Gretzky’s Oilers.
He also wore a pin with Gordie Howe’s no. 9, establishing the lineage between Howe — whose record Gretzky broke in 1994 — and Ovechkin and reinforcing the idea hockey players share a bond more unique than athletes in other sports.
“I think it’s important to be classy in this moment and support each other, even if we’re not playing on the same team,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said.
There may be more of that tonight, albeit in a less frenzied atmosphere, when Islanders fourth-liner Matt Martin plays what is likely to be his final home game. Players in Martin’s position often get their own postgame handshake with the opposing team, which further emphasizes the familial aspect players build despite — or because of — the inherently violent nature of the sport. It’ll be another example of right place, right time and everything going right for teams and people in the right place at the right time thanks to the NHL’s ever-quirky schedule matrix.
