Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is on the verge of achieving a remarkable milestone in the world of hockey. The seasoned player, now 39, is closing in on the illustrious all-time goals record held by Wayne Gretzky, who scored 894 goals during his legendary career. Gretzky’s last goal came on March 29, 1999, and Ovechkin now finds himself just 15 goals shy of surpassing that iconic mark.
As the 2024-25 NHL season unfolds, Ovechkin entered with 853 career goals and has shown no signs of slowing down. He kicked off the season with an impressive 15 goals in just 18 games. However, a broken fibula in November put him on the sidelines for about five weeks. Yet, upon returning to the ice, Ovechkin quickly showcased his scoring ability by netting four goals in his first five games back.
Currently, Ovechkin is tied for seventh place in the league with 26 goals in 39 games. He has been particularly effective lately, scoring four goals in his last five outings. His most recent goal, number 879, came during a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers, bringing him closer to Gretzky’s long-standing record.
Wayne Gretzky himself has expressed confidence in Ovechkin’s ability to break his record. Earlier this season, he remarked, “It’s just a matter of time, whether it’s late this year, early next year, whenever. I mean, he’s a great player. He’s a great goal scorer.” Such encouragement from a hockey legend certainly adds to the anticipation surrounding Ovechkin’s pursuit.
Hockey fans are also eager to see how the league will acknowledge this historic chase. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned that he intends to accompany Ovechkin when he gets closer to the record, alongside Gretzky, making it a monumental occasion in the sport’s history.
Ovechkin’s journey continues as the Capitals prepare to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 22, where he will have the opportunity to inch even closer to that coveted record. The Capitals have 27 games left in the season, providing ample opportunity for Ovechkin to score the goals needed to break the record.
In addition to Ovechkin’s record chase, it’s fascinating to look at the all-time goals leaderboard in the NHL. Following Gretzky and Ovechkin are other legends such as Gordie Howe with 801 goals, Jaromir Jagr with 766, and Brett Hull with 741. These players represent some of the highest achievements in the sport, and breaking Gretzky’s record would place Ovechkin in a league of his own.
Looking ahead, here are the upcoming games for the Washington Capitals:
- February 22: at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m. ET
- February 23: vs. Edmonton, 1 p.m. ET
- February 25: vs. Calgary, 7 p.m. ET
- February 27: vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m. ET
- March 1: vs. Tampa Bay, 12:30 p.m. ET
- March 3: vs. Ottawa, 6:30 p.m. ET
- March 5: at Rangers, 7 p.m. ET
- March 7: vs. Detroit, 7 p.m. ET
- March 9: vs. Seattle, 3:30 p.m. ET
- March 11: at Anaheim, 10 p.m. ET
- March 13: at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET
- March 15: at San Jose, 5 p.m. ET
- March 18: vs. Detroit, 7 p.m. ET
- March 20: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET
- March 22: vs. Florida, 5 p.m. ET
- March 25: at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. ET
- March 27: at Minnesota, 8 p.m. ET
- March 30: vs. Buffalo, 3 p.m. ET
- April 1: at Boston, 7 p.m. ET
- April 2: at Carolina, 7 p.m. ET
- April 4: vs. Chicago, 7 p.m. ET
- April 6: at Islanders, 12:30 p.m. ET
- April 10: vs. Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET
- April 12: at Columbus, 7 p.m. ET
- April 13: vs. Columbus, 6 p.m. ET
- April 15: at Islanders, 8 p.m. ET
- April 17: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET
With the hockey community closely watching, Ovechkin’s chase for the record serves as a source of excitement and inspiration, showcasing the passion and history of the sport. As the season progresses, fans will be eager to see if Ovechkin can indeed claim his spot as one of hockey’s greatest goal scorers of all time.
