A once seemingly unbreakable NHL record could fall as early as the 2024-25 season thanks to the goal-scoring prowess of Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin.
The Great Eight is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record of 894, which Gretzky reached on March 29, 1999, against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin began this season with 853 career goals.
He remains at 870 after failing to score during Washington’s 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins during a New Year’s Eve matinee.
“It’s just a matter of time, whether it’s late this year, early next year, whenever,” Gretzky told NHL.com earlier this season about Ovechkin’s chances of breaking his record. “I mean, he’s a great player. He’s a great goal scorer.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in December that he will follow Ovechkin around when he’s within four or five goals of the record with Gretzky accompanying him.
Ovechkin started this season red-hot, with 15 goals in his first 18 games. Unfortunately, a fractured fibula suffered on Nov. 18 caused him to miss 16 games for the Capitals. The “Russian Machine” has been durable for his entire NHL career, having missed only 75 games due to injury since breaking in during the 2005-06 season.
Since returning from injury on Dec. 28, Ovechkin has two goals in three games.
Ovechkin will resume his chase for Gretzky’s record Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.
We will track Ovechkin’s race to 894 goals and beyond all season.
NHL top-10 in career goals
1. Wayne Gretzky (894)
2. Alex Ovechkin (870)
3. Gordie Howe (801)
4. Jaromir Jagr (766)
5. Brett Hull (741)
6. Marcel Dionne (731)
7. Phil Esposito (717)
8. Mike Gartner (708)
9. Mark Messier (694)
10. Steve Yzerman (692)
Remaining 2024-25 regular-season games
Thu, Jan 2: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m. ET
Sat, Jan 4: vs. Rangers, 12 p.m. ET
Mon, Jan 6: at Buffalo, 7 p.m. ET
Wed, Jan 8: vs. Vancouver, 7:30 p.m. ET
Fri, Jan 10: vs. Montreal, 7 p.m. ET
Sat, Jan 11: at Nashville, 8 p.m. ET
Tue, Jan 14: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m. ET
Thu, Jan 16: at Ottawa, 7 p.m. ET
Sat, Jan 18: vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET
Tue, Jan 21: at Edmonton, 9 p.m. ET
Thu, Jan 23: at Seattle, 10 p.m. ET
Sat, Jan 25: at Vancouver, 10 p.m. ET
Tue, Jan 28: at Calgary, 9 p.m. ET
Thu, Jan 30: at Ottawa, 7 p.m. ET
Sat, Feb 1: vs….