How Alex Ovechkin celebrated goal #802 and passing Gordie Howe.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin created what will no doubt go down as one of the most memorable moments of the season on Friday night when he surpassed Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe on the National Hockey League's all-time goal scoring list with the 802nd goal of his NHL career.

It was no doubt an incredible moment in both Ovechkin's life and career especially given his respect for Howe, recently describing an autographed piece of memorabilia from Howe as the jewel of his collection, and as a result many were curious how Ovechkin planned to celebrate the incredible milestone.

Now you might expect, especially after seeing Ovechkin celebrate his Stanley Cup win in 2018, that Ovechkin would go all out and celebrate like a mad man following the conclusion of the game but it seems nothing could be further from the truth. Ovechkin instead indicated that he would be keeping things very down to earth.

“Going to a bar right now, hot dog, nachos, you know. Why not?" said Ovechkin after wrapping up the game.

It is fitting that Ovechkin would celebrate an incredible achievement in such a modest and humble fashion, considering the man he just passed on the list. Modest and humble are two words that perfectly describe Gordie Howe and I think he would approve of such a celebration given the man that he was.

Here's one of my all-time favorite examples:

"Gordie drives a minivan, it's his favorite car," said grandson Travis Howe of his grandfather back in 2008. "So he was pumping gas into it one day when a man got out of his car and recognized Gordie. The man started saying what a genius Gordie was, what a great disguise, to drive a minivan when everyone would expect he'd be driving something more expensive.

"But my grandfather grew up in a home during the Depression with no money whatsoever, no heat and no bathroom in their first house. Gordie never needed a whole lot to be happy and it has rubbed off on the rest of the family. The idea that it isn't money that makes you happy has been passed on because of what little he came from.”

Ovechkin also shared the moment with his family, his two young sons Ilya and Sergei, who can be seen holding the pucks from goal #801 and #802 here: