Wilson: I feel 'honored' to assist Ovechkin's record-breaking goal

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson is best known for stirring up controversy with his physical style of play, but he claimed a huge piece of hockey history Sunday, recording the primary assist on Alex Ovechkin's record-breaking 895th goal.

Speaking after the game, Wilson expressed plenty of gratitude for being involved in the play.

"It's not about me," Wilson said. "It makes me a little bit emotional just because I think so much of him. To be able to be beside him forever in a big goal, I feel very lucky, I feel very honored to be a part of that. It's not about me at all. I'm just really proud. I love that guy, I love his family, and I'm really proud of him."

Wilson added, "It will be the honor of my career to play with 'O,' learn so much from him, win with him, watch him score this goal. There's really no words to describe it."

Ovechkin eclipsed Wayne Gretzky's 31-year-old record with a vintage wrist shot during the second period of Sunday's loss to the New York Islanders. Wilson recalls sending the puck cross-ice to Ovechkin, but what followed is blurry.

"I just tried to find him on the entry there, and then when I was skating to the net and the puck went in the net, the next 15 seconds I truly kind of blacked out," Wilson said. "I've got to watch it back because I don't remember what happened. It was just chaos."

The Capitals mobbed Ovechkin after the goal, and the game was stopped for a ceremony involving the captain's family, Gretzky, and others.

"It's the biggest goal in the history of the NHL," Wilson said. "To be in here with all our best friends and a great captain, a great teammate, a great friend, I'm just so proud of him. I'm so happy for him. He's done so much for all of us, all of our careers. This organization, this city, his family, all our families. It's just truly special to be a part of, and I'm just so, so happy for him."

Wilson debuted with the Capitals in 2013-14 and won the Stanley Cup with Ovechkin in 2018. The pair flanks Dylan Strome - who registered the secondary assist - on Washington's top line.