Watch: Ovechkin Leads Way as Caps Honor Fleury

Greatness recognize greatness. Washington Capitals megastar Alex Ovechkin made sure he and his teammates feted goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury Thursday at the end of a game in which the Capitals lost and Fleury didn’t even play.

Fleury, the sure Hall of Famer who spent his first dozen seasons with the Penguins and remains a fan favorite, was the backup goaltender for the Minnesota Wild, which beat Washington 4-2. But with Fleury, 40, having announced he will retire after this season, Ovechkin refused to let the final meeting between the two go without some sort of fanfare.

As the game ended, Ovechkin made sure his teammates — some of whom had begun to retreat to the locker room — came onto the ice to meet and shake hands with Fleury, a sort of farewell steeped in respect. It made for a memorable tribute.

Watch, courtesy of Sportsnet: