Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is one of the most heralded players in NHL history. The legendary forward has already etched his name in history, but he’s still chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record.
Now, at age 39, Ovechkin is on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time goals leader, and he can pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 before the end of season. The Capitals standout currently has 888 career goals after he scored his 35th of the season in the first period of Washington’s 3-2 home win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
He now needs seven more goals in Washington’s 13 remaining games in order to top Gretzky’s record this season.
Ovechkin currently has 1,607 total points (888 goals, 719 assists) in his professional career. On March 9, Ovechkin became the 11th player in NHL history to reach 1,600 points.
The 2023-24 campaign proved to be a mortal one for Ovechkin where he scored 31 goals, his lowest total in a full-length season of his career. 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.
He made history in 2023-24 when he registered an NHL record 18th 30-goal season, passing Mike Gartner’s 17 for the honor. He’s now up to 19 for his career.
Ovechkin is an established force on the Capitals’ top power-play unit, so he continues to have plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. He, obviously, has scored at a much better pace than he did a year ago 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 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 on the verge of making history in the NHL. With just seven goals separating him from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record for most goals scored in a career, Ovechkin’s accomplishment would solidify his place among the greatest players to ever grace the ice.
Ovechkin, known for his powerful shot and scoring prowess, has been a dominant force in the NHL since he entered the league in 2005. He has consistently been among the league leaders in goals scored each season, and has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal scorer a record nine times.
Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals has stood for over two decades, and many believed it would be untouchable. However, Ovechkin’s relentless scoring ability and durability have put him within striking distance of this historic milestone.
If Ovechkin is able to break Gretzky’s record, it would be a monumental achievement that would cement his legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. It would also be a testament to his dedication and longevity in a sport that demands peak performance year after year.
As Ovechkin continues his pursuit of this historic milestone, hockey fans around the world are eagerly watching and waiting to see if he can make history. Whether he breaks the record this season or in the seasons to come, there is no denying that Alex Ovechkin’s name will forever be etched in NHL lore as one of the all-time greats.
