Breaking records is just second nature to Alex Ovechkin at this point. The Washington Capitals icon reached another major milestone on Wednesday, scoring his 900th career goal.
Ovechkin has shared much of his journey with his wife, Anastasia Shubskaya, whom he met at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
They reconnected in 2015, got married in 2016, and now have two sons, Sergei and Ilya. Through every season, Nastya, as she is known, has been by his side, supporting him both on and off the ice. This time around, she revealed one of the lucky charms behind what propelled her husband all the way to 900 goals in the NHL.
The Lucky Tradition Behind Alex Ovechkin’s Historic 900th Goal
As Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to score 900 goals during the 6–1 win over the St. Louis Blues, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. His wife, Nastya, and their sons were also in attendance to witness the special milestone.
Before the game, Nastya kept up a small tradition that has quietly become a favorite among the team – making borscht.
She shared a photo of the homemade soup on Instagram, joking that it might have brought luck in Ovechkin’s long quest for #900. The tradition goes back a few years, when she made the same dish before a big Capitals win. Since then, it has become somewhat of a lighthearted superstition for the team.
On Wednesday night, the Capitals looked sharp from start to finish. They outshot the Blues 32–24 and stayed in full control throughout. Ovechkin’s milestone goal came in the second period, a moment that brought both the crowd and his teammates to their feet. Nastya’s simple pregame gesture once again seemed to fit perfectly into the Capitals’ rhythm.
In a March interview with Sport-Express, Nastya shared that Ovechkin, whom she affectionately calls Sasha, sometimes asks her to make borscht for the team before big games.
“Yes, sometimes Sasha asks to make borscht for the team,” Nastya said. “There was a case when a couple of years ago I cooked huge pots of borscht – and the team, having eaten it, won, I think, 8-1. In any case, the score was incredible. They laughed that it was my ‘fault.’ Since then, such requests sometimes happen.”
At 40, Ovechkin continues to show the same drive that has defined his career. After the game, he said the milestone meant a lot to him, especially since it happened at home.
“It’s a huge number,” Ovechkin said. “No one ever did it in NHL history, and to be the first player ever to do it, it’s a special moment. It’s nice it’s over, and it’s nice to get it at home, so the fans and family can be here. Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
The Capitals, now 7-5-1, will next face the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 6 at 7:30 pm EST. The Penguins hold an 8-4-2 record and will be another important challenge as Washington looks to build on the momentum from Ovechkin’s historic night.
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