{"id":387009,"date":"2025-11-18T06:59:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T06:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/387009\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T06:59:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T06:59:12","slug":"alex-ovechkin-swaps-jerseys-with-anze-kopitar-after-capitals-kings-game-you-are-a-goal-scoring-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/387009\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Ovechkin swaps jerseys with Anze Kopitar after Capitals-Kings game: \u2018You are a goal-scoring machine!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alex Ovechkin\u2019s<\/strong> unofficial farewell tour continued at Capital One Arena on Monday night when he swapped game-used jerseys with Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar<\/strong>. The two players have scored 1,346 goals in the NHL combined.<\/p>\n

Kopitar inscribed on his sweater in silver Sharpie: To Ovi, You are a goal-scoring machine! Your friend, Anze Kopitar.<\/p>\n

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Ovechkin also gave Kopitar a blank Capitals jersey. \u201cThis one\u2019s a Christmas gift,\u201d Kopitar said, laughing. <\/p>\n

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Tom Wilson and John Carlson joined Ovechkin during the exchange, and they all posed for photos afterward.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, thanks for this,\u201d he said to Ovechkin of the game-used sweater.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee you in LA,\u201d Wilson responded.<\/p>\n

Ovechkin scored the 903rd goal of his career<\/a> in the contest, which ended up being the game winner. Kopitar scored the 443rd of his career in the second period, tipping home a Corey Perry pass on the power play.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the night, Kopitar was honored by the Capitals on the jumbotron as he was playing his final game at Capital One Arena.<\/p>\n

Kopitar, who has played 20 seasons with the Kings, announced in September he\u2019d be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. The 38-year-old centerman made his announcement while flanked by his wife and two children.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter last season, I had a bit of time over the last few months to think and to talk to the family to see where the path is for me and where it\u2019s going, and after lots and lots of thinking, I\u2019ve decided that this year is going to be my last year playing in the NHL,\u201d Kopitar said. \u201cWith a heavy heart obviously, I\u2019ve accepted that decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese guys (wife and children) that are sitting here with me, have been with me for the past 20-plus years and now they deserve a husband and a dad to be home and present for the moments that are going to be leading up, especially for these guys (children). They\u2019re soon going to be teenagers and we all know that\u2019s a very important time of their lives and I want to be as present as I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ovechkin\u2019s swap with Kopitar marks the third legendary player he\u2019s exchanged jerseys with this season<\/a>, including Evgeni Malkin and Brad Marchand<\/a> and Evgeni Malkin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ovechkin, 40, is in the final year of his contract and has said he will make a decision on his future after the season.<\/p>\n

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