Alex Ovechkin is now just one goal away from tying Wayne Gretzky`s NHL record of 894 career goals. The Washington Capitals star scored his 893rd career goal, which was also his 40th of the 2024-25 season, in the first period of Friday`s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Capitals forward Dylan Strome passed the puck to Ovechkin from behind the net. Ovechkin then unleashed a powerful one-timer shot that hit the post and then bounced off Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight into the net.
Here are the top five players with the most goals in NHL history:
- Wayne Gretzky, 894
- Alex Ovechkin, 893
- Gordie Howe, 801
- Jaromír Jágr, 766
- Brett Hull, 741
Ovechkin is significantly ahead of the closest active player, Sidney Crosby, by more than 370 goals.
While Ovechkin is close to Gretzky`s overall record, he has already extended his own record with his 40th goal of this season. This marks his 14th season with 40 or more goals, surpassing all other players. Wayne Gretzky (12), Mario Lemieux (10), and Marcel Dionne (10) are the only other players with at least 10 such seasons. Ovechkin also leads all active players in this category, with Steven Stamkos having seven 40-goal seasons.
At 39 years old, Ovechkin is the second-oldest NHL player to achieve a 40-goal season. Gordie Howe holds the record, scoring 44 goals in the 1968-69 season at age 40.
Ovechkin`s current season is particularly impressive considering he suffered a broken left fibula in November after colliding with Jack McBain. He was sidelined for over a month (16 games) due to the injury. Remarkably, Ovechkin scored in each of his first two games upon his return, and he has maintained that scoring pace. His current rate of 2.2 goals per 60 minutes is on track to be a career high, and he is also on pace for his highest goals-per-game rate since the 2019-20 season.
Furthermore, Ovechkin`s goals are contributing to team success. The Capitals, the only NHL team Ovechkin has ever played for, were the first team to secure a playoff spot in the NHL and are currently leading the Eastern Conference.
With Ovechkin just one goal away from tying Gretzky, here is the upcoming schedule for Ovechkin and the Capitals:
- April 6: at Islanders
- April 10: vs. Hurricanes
- April 12: at Blue Jackets
- April 13: vs. Blue Jackets
- April 15: at Islanders
- April 17: at Penguins
