Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is on the verge of making history in the NHL as he closes in on the all-time goals record of 894 set by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin currently has 884 goals to his name, needing just 10 to tie and 11 to break the record.
This season, Ovechkin started 42 goals shy of breaking Gretzky's long-standing regular-season record. Despite facing a setback due to a leg injury in November, the 39-year-old Russian forward has shown remarkable resilience in his pursuit of the record.
Ovechkin recently scored his 31st goal of the season in a game against Tampa Bay, inching closer to the historic milestone. Notably, Ovechkin already holds several NHL records, including most power-play goals, shots on goal, and game-winning goals.
Furthermore, Ovechkin has scored on 181 different goaltenders, surpassing the previous record set by Jaromir Jagr. With 178 multi-goal games under his belt, Ovechkin stands second only to Gretzky in this category.
Earlier this season, Ovechkin joined an elite group of players by recording his 700th career assist, becoming one of only six players to achieve both 700 goals and 700 assists in NHL history.
Having surpassed several legendary scorers like Mike Gartner, Phil Esposito, and Jaromir Jagr, Ovechkin now sits in second place behind Gretzky in the all-time goals list. Gretzky, who set the record in 1994 with 802 goals, remains a towering figure in NHL history with 55 records to his name.
While Ovechkin's pursuit of Gretzky's goals record is a significant milestone, Gretzky's total points and assists records appear to be unattainable for any current player. Gretzky's legacy extends beyond just goals, with his dominance in playoff goals and achievements in other leagues solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in hockey history.
As Ovechkin continues his remarkable career and chases Gretzky's record, the hockey world eagerly anticipates witnessing history in the making.
