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.
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 884 career goals after scoring Washington’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon.
He now needs 11 more goals in the team’s remaining 22 games in order to top Gretzky’s record this season.
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 since he netted 32 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 1,598 points (884 goals, 714 assists) in his professional career. He made even more history in 2023-24 when he registered an NHL record 18th 30-goal season, passing Mike Gartner’s 17 for the honor.
At this season’s pace, given health, Ovechkin would surpass “The Great One” before the end of the regular season.
Ovechkin will likely continue to be an established force on the Capitals’ top power-play unit, so there figures to be 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 making waves in the hockey world as he continues his quest to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record. Ovechkin, who currently sits at 11 goals away from surpassing Gretzky’s record of 894 goals, is showing no signs of slowing down as he approaches this historic milestone.
Ovechkin, known for his incredible scoring ability and powerful shot, has been a dominant force in the NHL since he entered the league in 2005. He has consistently been one of the league’s top goal scorers, winning the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer a record nine times.
At 36 years old, Ovechkin is defying age and continuing to produce at an elite level. In the 2020-2021 season, he scored 24 goals in 45 games, leading the Capitals in scoring and showing that he still has plenty left in the tank.
As Ovechkin closes in on Gretzky’s record, hockey fans around the world are eagerly watching his progress and cheering him on. If he is able to break the record, it would solidify his place as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history and cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
While breaking Gretzky’s record will be no easy feat, Ovechkin has shown time and time again that he is up to the challenge. With his combination of skill, determination, and passion for the game, there is no doubt that Ovechkin has what it takes to make history and etch his name in the record books.
As Ovechkin continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s record, hockey fans can look forward to witnessing history in the making and celebrating the incredible career of one of the game’s true legends. Whether he breaks the record this season or in the seasons to come, Ovechkin’s progress towards this historic milestone is a testament to his talent and dedication to the sport he loves.
