895. That’s one more than Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record in his 1,487 NHL games, and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is hot on his tail. Ovechkin has notched 888 goals in 1,480 games, and with just 12 regular season games remaining, Caps fans are wondering when Ovechkin will outscore The Great One.
The 39-year-old Russian has played for the Caps since he was drafted in 2005 and led the team to its 2018 Stanley Cup victory, but you already knew all that. His left-side slapshot, prowess on the power play, and overtime goal record have already made Ovechkin a league + local legend, and beating out Gretzky would be the cherry on top.
The Caps are the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season — and were the last in the 2023-2024 season. We’re hoping this means more room for Ovi to outscore Gretzky, but if not, his contract with the Caps is through the 2025-2026 season, after which Ovechkin said he will likely retire.
If you’re out there, Ovechkin, we’ve got a little advice from someone you might know: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
For your chance to see Ovechkin hit 895 at home, catch the Caps against the Sabres on Sunday, March 30, the Blackhawks on Friday, April 4, and the Hurricanes on Thursday, April 10.
