© Zach Guerette

Alex Ovechkin received a surprise gift from the Washington Capitals for his 39th birthday on Tuesday.

In a video posted on social media, the Capitals presented the forward with a special black jersey with the “screaming eagle” logo the team plans to wear during six home games this season to commemorate its 50th anniversary. After entering one of the auxiliary locker rooms at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Ovechkin happily opened a box wrapped in gold paper, pulled out the jersey and exclaimed, “Yes. It’s good. It’s so good. Love it.”

You know we had to get the big man a #Gr8 gift for his birthday pic.twitter.com/i0tdkSmwx8

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 17, 2024

The jersey is similar to the NHL Reverse Retro jerseys Washington wore during the 2022-23 season and reminiscent of a sweater design the team introduced in 1995. It features a blue, black, and bronze color scheme, with the United States Capitol Building displayed on the shoulder.

“Thank you for surprise,” Ovechkin said, laughing.

Ovechkin, who will enter his 20th NHL season needing 42 goals to break Wayne Gretzky’s League record of 894, smiled while examining the jersey before holding it up and saying, “It’s back, babes.”

Washington will wear the anniversary jerseys at home against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 6, New York Islanders on Nov. 29, Boston Bruins on Dec. 31, Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 18, Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 1 and Columbus Blue Jackets on April 13. The jerseys will be available online at NHLShop.com, NHLShop.ca and shop.monumentalsportsnetwork.com, the MedStar Capitals Iceplex store, and the Capital One Arena Team Store beginning Oct. 10.

The Capitals later posted a photo of Ovechkin seated on a locker room bench holding his stick and blowing a gum bubble while wearing the full uniform, including black socks with blue, white, and gold striping. It was posted underneath one of Ovechkin from his NHL rookie season in 2005 wearing Washington’s black home uniforms from that time, which featured the Capitol building as the main jersey logo instead of the “screaming eagle.”

pic.twitter.com/Kk7sAOBHqw

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 17, 2024

Both photos were both taken by Simon Bruty, who snapped the original at the Piney Orchard Arena, the Capitals former practice facility in Odenton, Maryland for a Sports Illustrated feature.