Alex Ovechkin is one goal away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894 goals. He tied the record on April 4, 2025, with his 894th goal against the Chicago Blackhawks. Ovechkin, a 39-year-old Russian winger for the Washington Capitals, has been chasing Gretzky’s record for years and has emerged as a serious threat to break it.
Ovechkin’s Journey to the Record
Ovechkin passed Gordie Howe for second place in 2022-23, breaking Gretzky’s record for the most 40-goal seasons.
He scored his 893rd career goal against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 4, 2025, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the record chase.
Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s record with his second goal of the game, one-timing a feed from John Carlson ¹ ² ³.
The Record-Breaking Moment
Ovechkin’s goal marked a historic moment, with the crowd at Capital One Arena giving him a standing ovation. Gretzky, who was present at the game, commended Ovechkin for joining him in history, saying, “Alex has been great for the game and Washington and his country.” Ovechkin downplayed the desire to tie the record in front of his home crowd, calling it “special” ² ³.
What’s Next for Ovechkin?
With one goal to go, Ovechkin is poised to break Gretzky’s record. Given his impressive statistics, including a shooting percentage of 17.9% and 3.6 attempts per game, it’s likely he’ll achieve this milestone soon. Ovechkin’s consistency and skill have set the stage for his name to be etched alongside Gretzky’s in NHL history ⁴.
Ovechkin’s Stats
Goals: 894 (tied with Wayne Gretzky’s record)
Games played: 1,434 (and counting)
Shooting percentage: 17.9%
Attempts per game: 3.6
Career goals needed to break Gretzky’s record: 1 ¹ ⁴
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