Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is a celebrated figure in NHL history. Already a legend, the forward is now closing in on Wayne Gretzky`s all-time goal record.
At 39 years old, Ovechkin is on the cusp of becoming the NHL`s all-time leading scorer, potentially surpassing Gretzky`s record of 894 goals before this season concludes. Ovechkin currently boasts 892 career goals, after scoring his 39th goal of the season on Wednesday in a game against the Hurricanes.
This goal marked Ovechkin`s third consecutive game with a score.
Ovechkin`s career totals include 1,616 points (892 goals and 724 assists). With seven games remaining in the 2024-25 season for the Capitals, he needs just three more goals to overtake Gretzky`s record.
Despite being on track and showing recent scoring momentum, Ovechkin has little room for error. If he maintains his current scoring pace, he could potentially break Gretzky`s record as early as April 17, the final day of the regular season, or even sooner.
Achieving a multi-goal game would significantly improve his chances. He has accomplished this five times this season, though only once since late November. Here’s a look at the Capitals` upcoming schedule and the average goals allowed per game by their opponents:
Capitals Upcoming Schedule
- April 4: vs. Blackhawks (3.59 goals allowed per game)
- April 6: at Islanders (3.06 goals allowed per game)
- April 10: vs. Hurricanes (2.66 goals allowed per game)
Ovechkin reached another milestone on March 9, becoming the 11th player in NHL history to reach 1,600 points. In the 2022-23 season, he scored 42 goals, and remarkably, he has achieved at least 41 goals in 13 of his 19 NHL seasons.
During the 2023-24 season, Ovechkin made history by recording his 18th 30-goal season, surpassing Mike Gartner`s previous record of 17. He has now extended this record to 19 seasons.
Updates on Ovechkin`s pursuit of Gretzky`s all-time record will continue to be provided.
