Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is closing in on being one of the most accomplished players in NHL history, and he took a notable step forward with two goals against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.
With the 2024-25 season now in progress, Ovechkin is on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time goals leader. Ovechkin can pass Wayne Gretzky’s mark (894) during the 2024-25 regular season. The Capitals standout currently has 857 career goals, so he would need to rack up just 37 more goals this season in order to top Gretzky’s league record.
The 2023-24 campaign proved to be a mortal one for Ovechkin, who scored 31 goals last season. Ovechkin’s 31 goals was his lowest goal-scoring total since he netted 32 goals in the 2012-13 season. Ovechkin did have just 24 goals in 2020-21, but that season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ovechkin scored 42 goals during the 2022-23 season, and has tallied at least 41 goals in 13 of his 19 NHL seasons.
Ovechkin currently has tallied 1,557 points (857 goals, 700 assists) in his professional career. He did make even more history in 2023-24 when he registered an NHL record 18th 30-goal season as he passed Mike Gartner (17) for the honor.
Ovechkin scored his third and fourth goals of the season in a 5-3 win against the Rangers on Oct. 29. That helped Ovechkin keep the pace he needs to catch Gretzky by the end of the regular season. Right now, Ovechkin is on pace for 41 goals, which is exactly what he needs to tie The Great One.
Ovechkin will likely continue to be an established force on the Capitals’ top power-play unit, so there will be plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. He will look to get off to a hotter start than he did in 2023-24 when he recorded just five goals over the first two months of the season.
CBS Sports will keep track of Ovechkin’s goals throughout the 2024-25 season and keep tabs on how close he is to eclipsing Gretzky’s all-time record.
Alex Ovechkin, the star forward for the Washington Capitals, is quickly closing in on one of the most prestigious records in NHL history. With 37 goals separating him from tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894, Ovechkin’s pursuit of this milestone has captivated hockey fans around the world.
Ovechkin, known for his lethal shot and scoring prowess, has been a dominant force in the NHL since he entered the league in 2005. The Russian winger has consistently been among the league leaders in goals scored and has already cemented his place as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time.
As Ovechkin continues his quest to surpass Gretzky’s record, fans and analysts alike are keeping a close eye on his progress. With each goal he scores, the excitement and anticipation build as Ovechkin inches closer to making history.
Throughout the season, Ovechkin’s goal-scoring pace will be closely monitored, with every goal bringing him one step closer to etching his name in the record books. Whether he achieves this feat this season or in the seasons to come, there is no doubt that Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record will be a storyline to watch for years to come.
As Ovechkin continues to light the lamp and thrill fans with his scoring prowess, the hockey world eagerly awaits the moment when he will finally tie and potentially surpass Gretzky’s all-time goals record. Until then, fans will continue to cheer on Ovechkin as he chases history and solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of skates.
