Washington Capitals` iconic player, Alex Ovechkin, a legend in the NHL, continues his quest to surpass Wayne Gretzky`s all-time goal record.
At 39, Ovechkin is on the cusp of becoming the league`s leading goal scorer, potentially overtaking Gretzky`s 894 goals before this season concludes. Currently, Ovechkin boasts 890 career goals, after scoring his 37th goal of the season against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. In an 8-5 loss to Buffalo, Ovechkin also contributed an assist.
With only nine games remaining in the 2024-25 season, Ovechkin needs just five more goals to surpass Gretzky`s record this season.
While Ovechkin appears likely to break Gretzky`s record, the pressure is on as the regular season nears its end. Maintaining his current scoring rate could see him break the record by April 17, the season`s final day.
Multiple-goal games would significantly boost his chances. He has achieved this five times this season, but only once since late November. Here`s a look at the Capitals` upcoming games and the average goals allowed by each opponent.
Capitals Upcoming Schedule
- April 1: at Bruins (3.28)
- April 2: at Hurricanes (2.64)
- April 4: vs. Blackhawks (3.59)
Ovechkin has accumulated 1,613 points in his career (890 goals, 723 assists). On March 9th, he became the 11th NHL player to reach 1,600 points.
In the 2022-23 season, Ovechkin scored 42 goals, and he has reached at least 41 goals in 13 of his 19 NHL seasons.
In 2023-24, he set a record with his 18th 30-goal season, surpassing Mike Gartner`s 17. He now has 19 such seasons in his career.
Keep following CBS Sports for updates on Ovechkin`s goal count and his progress towards breaking Gretzky`s all-time record throughout the season.
Elton Marrow