It was obviously going to happen in Montreal.

Alex Ovechkin went into Monday night needing one goal to tie Canadiens legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard on the NHL's all-time goal-scoring list, and after a goal and two assists in Washington's 4-1 win, he left the Bell Centre tied with No. 9 at 544.

Ovechkin's won the "Richard Trophy" as the NHL's leading goal-scorer six times, including in each of the last four seasons.

"The Great Eight" is now only one point from 1,000 in his career, and he'll look to record the milestone Wednesday at home in D.C., with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in town (of course).

"It means I'm getting old," Ovechkin said of the career milestones after the game, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu.

"Time moves forward and time moves quick, so you just have to enjoy every second, every moment when you have the opportunity to try to do something special," Ovechkin added, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

Only 31, Ovechkin's clearly getting philosophical with age.

The superstar scorer said head coach Barry Trotz talked to him about tying the record in Montreal. And he did.

Up next, a conversation about point number 1,000, no doubt.

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