Alex Ovechkin’s sons introduce dad at final Capitals home opener of his Hall of Fame career

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, played his final Washington Capitals home opener on Wednesday night in a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 41-year-old Russian star, who recently announced his upcoming retirement, was introduced to the crowd by his sons, Sergei and Ilya. Despite not scoring a point in the contest—the 101st matchup between him and Sidney Crosby—the night was marked by tributes to his 22-season career and his unconventional longevity, which he attributes in part to a habit of drinking Coca-Cola for energy during games.

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, played his final Washington Capitals home opener on Wednesday night in a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 41-year-old Russian star, who recently announced his upcoming retirement, was introduced to the crowd by his sons, Sergei and Ilya. Despite not scoring a point in the contest—the 101st matchup between him and Sidney Crosby—the night was marked by tributes to his 22-season career and his unconventional longevity, which he attributes in part to a habit of drinking Coca-Cola for energy during games.