Ovechkin’s Historic Chase: Can He Surpass Gretzky This Season?
Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals’ iconic captain, is electrifying the hockey world with his relentless pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s seemingly insurmountable NHL career goal record. At 39 years old, Ovechkin is on the cusp of etching his name even deeper into hockey lore, potentially surpassing the Great One’s mark of 894 goals before the current season concludes.
Entering this season, Ovechkin needed 42 goals to break the record, a feat that many believed was within his grasp. Gretzky’s record, a testament to his unparalleled dominance, has stood tall since 1999, a constant reminder of the standard of excellence in the sport. Now, Ovechkin stands just nine goals away with 17 games remaining, making the anticipation palpable.
Ovechkin’s season has been a tale of two acts. He started with a blistering pace, scoring 15 goals in his first 18 games, showcasing the offensive prowess that has defined his career. However, a fractured left fibula suffered on November 18 against the Utah Hockey Club threatened to derail his pursuit. The injury sidelined him for 16 games, casting doubt on his ability to reach the coveted milestone this season.
But Ovechkin is not one to be easily deterred. Since his return on December 28, he has reignited his scoring touch, netting 18 goals and demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the chase. His resilience and determination have not only fueled his own quest but have also inspired his team and captivated fans worldwide.
This season has been more than just a chase for the record; it has been a showcase of Ovechkin’s enduring legacy. He moved into second place with 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons, a testament to his consistency and longevity. He also set a record for the number of goalies he has scored against in his career, further solidifying his status as one of the most feared goal scorers in NHL history. Additionally, he tied records for game-winning goals and the most franchises against which he has recorded a hat trick, and he became the first player to score 200 goals in three different decades.
While the focus remains on the goal record, Ovechkin’s overall impact on the game is undeniable. His passion, physicality, and scoring ability have made him a fan favorite and a driving force for the Capitals for nearly two decades.
The statistics paint a clear picture of Ovechkin’s pursuit:
- Ovechkin currently has 886 career goals.
- He needs just nine more goals to surpass Gretzky’s record.
- In 49 games this season, he has 33 goals and 20 assists.
- Factoring in the 16 games he missed, his current pace projects to 44 goals this season, putting him within reach of the record.
- Ovechkin has played in 12 fewer career games than Gretzky.
In the Capitals’ recent 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, Ovechkin, while not scoring himself, contributed three assists, including one that helped Aliaksei Protas achieve his first NHL hat trick with an empty-net goal. This exemplifies Ovechkin’s leadership and his willingness to contribute to his team’s success, even when not finding the back of the net himself.
The Capitals’ upcoming game on Thursday, March 13, against the Los Angeles Kings presents another opportunity for Ovechkin to close the gap. In 27 career regular-season games against the Kings, he has scored 12 goals.
A deeper look at Ovechkin’s goal-scoring profile reveals his versatility and dominance in various game situations:
- Even strength goals: 560, third overall in NHL history.
- Power play goals: 321, an NHL record.
- Short-handed goals: 5.
- Empty net goals: 65, an NHL record, surpassing Gretzky last season.
- Game-winning goals: 135, tied for first with Jaromir Jagr.
- Overtime goals: 27, an NHL record.
- Multi-goal games: 178, second overall.
- Goalies scored against: 181, an NHL record.
- Hat tricks: 32, tied for fifth overall. He has hat tricks against 20 franchises, tying Brett Hull’s record.
- 20-goal seasons: 20, tied for second overall.
- 30-goal seasons: 19, an NHL record.
- 40-goal seasons: 13, an NHL record.
Even if Ovechkin doesn’t break Gretzky’s record this season, he has one more year left on his contract to achieve the milestone. However, the momentum and excitement surrounding his current pursuit suggest that history could be made in the coming weeks.
The top 21 NHL all-time goal scorers, all with 600 or more goals, represent a who’s who of hockey legends. Almost all are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, with the exceptions of Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Jagr, all still active players.
The list of the top goal scorers serves as a reminder of the elite company Ovechkin is keeping:
- Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games
- Alex Ovechkin, 886 goals in 1,475 games
- Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games
- Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games
- Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games
- Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games
- Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games
- Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games
- Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games
- Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games
- Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games
- Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games
- Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games
- Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games
- Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games
- Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games
- Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games
- Sidney Crosby, 615 goals in 1,337 games
- Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games
- Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games
- Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games
The hockey world watches with bated breath as Ovechkin continues his pursuit of history. Whether he breaks the record this season or next, his legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time is already secure. His chase of Gretzky’s record has reignited a passion for the game and provided fans with a thrilling narrative that will be remembered for generations to come. The question remains: will Ovechkin rewrite the record books in the coming weeks, solidifying his place as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer? Only time will tell.
