Alex Ovechkin’s 2024-25 season is full of milestones.
He’s playing in his 20th season in the NHL and the Washington Capitals are celebrating their 50th anniversary.
And if things continue to go well this season, Ovechkin can reach a milestone once thought unreachable.
Ovechkin, 39, entered this season needing 42 goals to break Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Capitals star, who had 42 goals two seasons ago, has scored eight times this season, including six goals in his current five-game goal streak.
“It’s not a question of if he’s going to break the record,’ Gretzky, now a TV analyst, said on TNT. ‘It’s a question of when is he going to break the record, which is great for the game. It’s positive and he’s been a classy player for our sport for so many years.’
If Ovechkin falls short this season — he scored 31 goals last season — he has one more season left on his contract.
Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record:
How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?
Ovechkin has 861 career goals.
How close is Alex Ovechkin to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record?
Ovechkin needs 34 goals to break Gretzky’s record.
How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have this season?
Ovechkin has eight goals and eight assists in 12 games. He didn’t hit eight goals until his 35th game last season. He’s on pace for 55 goals this season.
What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?
Ovechkin had a goal, an assist and four shots in Wednesday’s 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators. He scored in the third period on a snap shot from the right faceoff circle, beating goalie Juuse Saros.
When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?
Ovechkin plays Friday, Nov. 8, at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has 42 goals in 75 career games against the Penguins.
Alex Ovechkin career goal breakdown
Even strength: 543, third overall
Power play: 313, a record
Short-handed: 5
Game winners: 130, second overall
Empty net: 58, a record
How did Alex Ovechkin fare last season?
He had an uncharacteristically slow start, including a 14-game goal drought. But he started picking up after the All-Star Game, scoring in six of seven games with another stretch of eight goals in five games and finished with 31. By picking up his 18th 30-goal season, he broke the record he shared with Hall of Famer Mike Gartner. Ovechkin broke Gretzky’s record for empty-net goals and moved into second place all-time with 19 consecutive 20-goal seasons. He also improved to 129 game-winning goals, leaving him six behind record-holder Jaromir Jagr.
Who are the NHL’s top all-time goal scorers?
The top 20 NHL all-time goal scorers have all topped 600 goals and Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby can join them this season. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Crosby and Jagr, who is still playing in Czechia.
1. Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games
2. Alex Ovechkin, 861 goals in 1,438 games
3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games
4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games
5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games
6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games
7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games
8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games
9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games
10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games
11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games
12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games
13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games
14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games
15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games
16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games
17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games
18. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games
19. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games
20. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games
21. Sidney Crosby, 598 goals in 1,286 games