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Video: Backstrom sets Capitals assists record (for now?)

Nashville Predators v Washington Capitals

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 20: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a game against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Verizon Center on December 20, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Nicklas Backstrom earned the 419th assist of his already-impressive career on Sunday, setting a new Washington Capitals record ... for now.

The helper came on a John Carlson power-play goal:

The really interesting is that Alex Ovechkin could easily pass him in this game.

Ovechkin, Backstrom and Michal Pivonka came into Sunday tied for the franchise mark with 418 assists. Pivonka obviously will be passed soon enough, but the two faces of the Capitals franchise will duke it out for that mark going forward.

To Nicklas Backstrom’s credit, he’s played more than 200 fewer games than Ovechkin. Considering their relationship (Backstrom is the Montana to Ovechkin’s Rice, if you will), one would assume that the slick Swede will finish with the assists mark while Ovechkin should finish with the Caps’ goals and points records.

Regardless, it really is another reminder that Backstrom should probably have an All-Star Game on his resume, right?

Update: Backstrom added a second assist to give himself 420 and helped Washington win 2-0 (more on that here).