Sun Mar 09 22:40:00 UTC 2025: **Ovechkin on Verge of Breaking Gretzky’s NHL Goal Record**
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is poised to etch his name in NHL history. With 32 goals this season and only 10 more needed in the Capitals’ remaining 19 games, the 39-year-old superstar is on track to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record of 894 career goals.
Ovechkin’s pursuit has been nothing short of remarkable. He overcame a fractured fibula suffered in November, returning to score 17 goals since December 28th. His current 45-goal pace, even accounting for missed games, puts the record within reach before the season’s end. Already this season, Ovechkin has achieved several milestones, including his 20th consecutive 20-goal season, setting a record for the number of goalies he’s scored against, tying records for game-winning goals and hat tricks against different franchises, and becoming the first player to score 200 goals in three different decades.
Should he fall short this season, Ovechkin still has one year remaining on his contract, offering another opportunity to claim the record. Currently, he sits at 885 career goals, just 9 behind Gretzky. The intense competition between Ovechkin and Gretzky is only heightened by Gretzky’s impressive 56 empty net goals, a category Ovechkin leads with 64.
The Capitals’ next game is Sunday against Seattle, providing another chance for Ovechkin to inch closer to his historic achievement. The hockey world eagerly awaits the potential crowning moment of one of the greatest careers in the sport’s history.
First Piper 