Rangers’ Peter Laviolette reflects on coaching Alex Ovechkin after record-breaking goal

In the present, Peter Laviolette was just like the rest of the NHL, watching from afar as Alex Ovechkin approached and surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record.

But during Laviolette’s three seasons with the Capitals, he witnessed Ovechkin’s chase to pass Gordie Howe for No. 2 on the all-time goals list and was perched behind the bench in December 2022 when Ovechkin collected his 802nd.

Everybody knew the next step — passing Gretzky — would eventually happen, Laviolette said Sunday, and then around an hour later, Ovechkin ripped a vintage shot from the slot past Ilya Sorokin during the second period of the Islanders’ 4-1 win against the Capitals.

“It’s big news inside the league, too,” Laviolette said after the Rangers skated in Tarrytown ahead of their game Monday against the Lightning. “I think everybody keeps an eye on it. Everybody’s tuned into it. It’s a massive record. It’s the biggest record. It’s a home run-type record. For that reason, everybody watches it.”

When Laviolette arrived for the 2020-21 season, Ovechkin was in the middle of trying to string together enough goals to pass Howe, and he collected 24 during the condensed season before following that with the ninth 50-goal campaign of his career the following year.

Peter Laviolette (L.) coached Alex Ovechkin with the Capitals.

Laviolette was also behind the bench when Ovechkin deposited a puck into the empty net to slide past Howe during the 2022-23 season, months before the Capitals and Laviolette parted ways after missing the playoffs.

And three seasons later, with his Rangers struggling to keep up in a playoff race that — if they snagged the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot — would likely lead to a first-round showdown with Ovechkin and the Capitals for a second consecutive year, Laviolette watched his former player make history.

“It becomes more and more on the table and talked about more and looked at more inside of that,” Laviolette said of Ovechkin passing Howe. “Away from it now, you’re watching it from the outside. … That time there, it was a lot of fun just watching that as he was chasing down No. 2.”

Alex Ovechkin slides on his belly in celebration of scoring his 895th career goal on Sunday against the Islanders.

Matt Rempe was a full participant again in practice Sunday, but Laviolette just said he’s still “progressing” when asked if the forward would be an option for their game Monday.

Rempe hasn’t played since March 25.

K’Andre Miller was sick and didn’t practice for the Rangers on Sunday.

Will Cuylle still needs five hits to pass Ryan Callahan (285 in 2009-10) for the single-season Rangers record.

Gabe Perreault, after a whirlwind of a first week featuring an entry-level deal Monday and a debut Wednesday for the 19-year-old forward, said he has “settled in more and more each day,” making the adjustment to the NHL while skating alongside J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière during his first two games.