Thu Dec 04 04:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article:

Summary:

The article argues that Alex Ovechkin, already considered the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history, could have potentially reached or surpassed the 1,000-goal mark had it not been for events like the 2012-2013 lockout and the COVID-shortened seasons of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. These events collectively cost him an estimated 44 goals.

News Article:

Ovechkin’s Quest for 1,000 Goals Derailed by Lockout and Pandemic, Despite Unmatched Scoring Prowess

Washington, D.C. – Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals captain and widely regarded as the greatest goal scorer in NHL history, likely won’t be able to make it to 1,000 career goals because of external circumstances.

Ovechkin currently sits at 909 regular season goals, far ahead of the rest of the NHL, however, the milestone of 1,000 career goals remains elusive and has prompted discussion about what could have been.

While Ovechkin’s career has been marked by consistent scoring success, several external factors hampered his pursuit of a milestone that would have firmly established him as the undisputed king of NHL goal-scorers, well beyond Wayne Gretzky’s current record of 894. Specifically, the 2012-2013 NHL lockout robbed Ovechkin of approximately 22 goals. Further denting his potential were the COVID-19-shortened seasons of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, which cost him an estimated nine and thirteen goals, respectively.

“While we are in what could be Ovechkin’s last season in the league, the lockout and the pandemic are probably the only reasons that the goal scoring king will never hit 1,000, and will be only 106 ahead of Gretzky at best,” said one prominent NHL analyst.

Despite these setbacks, Ovechkin’s accomplishments remain remarkable. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s leading goal-scorer in both the lockout-shortened 2012-2013 season and the 2019-2020 season, solidifying his place among the game’s elite, no matter how many goals he ultimately tallies.

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