‘Didn’t think he’d mind sharing’: Binnington jokes about attempting to steal Alex Ovechkin’s 900th goal puck

The Washington Capitals‘ Alex Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to score 900 goals in Wednesday’s 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. It’s the kind of remarkable, historic achievement that surely was celebrated and honored by everyone involved, even members of the opposing team. Right? Well, not exactly, as Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington apparently attempted to steal the record-setting puck for himself before eventually handing it over to official Michael Cormier.

While it may have seemed to be a petty move in the moment, Binnington played it off as a joke when speaking to the media on Thursday.

“Yeah, I figured… basically had an assist on the goal there, turning the puck over, didn’t think he’d mind sharing,” Binnington said. “I had full intention to give it back to him… yeah, full intention to give it back.”

Binnington’s recollection of the play is accurate, at least. The veteran netminder played the puck behind his own goal, and after a longer period of stick handling than you typically see from a goalie, had his clearing attempt knocked down by Ovechkin, keeping the puck in the zone and eventually leading to Ovechkin’s milestone moment.

Unfortunately for Binnington, assists aren’t awarded on goals scored by your opponent, meaning he would not, in fact, be given credit for one on the play. Maybe this is what Cormier had to explain for him to ultimately relinquish the puck from the back if his goalie pants.

Binnington insists he was planning on giving the puck back to the Capitals star, implying that his puck pilfering attempt was always just a joke. We’ll give the goaltender the benefit of the doubt and believe him, since there’s no way to prove otherwise. Regardless, let’s take this as a lesson that if a player ever scores a record-setting, milestone goal, let that player have the puck right away.