24 – Number of players in NHL history to reach the 1000-game mark with at least 700 assists, an elite club which now includes Nicklas Backstrom.
Backstrom joins Sidney Crosby as the only active players to achieve this accomplishment, with the Caps’ center reaching the 700-assist mark earlier this season. He added a helper in last night’s loss to Buffalo to bring his career total up to 715, and his season total to 31 assists – his 14th-consecutive 30+ assist season, one of just three players on that streak (along with Patrick Kane and Anze Kopitar).