Ovechkin’s Chase: The Grate Eight Closes in on Gretzky’s NHL scoring Record
By Archyde News Journalist
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, at 39 years old, is on the verge of achieving a historic milestone: surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s seemingly insurmountable NHL all-time goals record of 894. For hockey fans across the U.S., this pursuit is more than just a numbers game; its a captivating narrative of skill, perseverance, and the potential rewriting of hockey history.
Gretzky, “the Great One,” etched his name in history wiht his final goal on March 29, 1999. Now, “The Great Eight” is poised to perhaps eclipse that mark before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The anticipation is palpable, reminiscent of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s home run chase in 1998, which captivated the nation.
Ovechkin began the season with an impressive 853 career goals and ignited excitement with 15 goals in his initial 18 games. However, a broken fibula in November temporarily sidelined his pursuit, keeping him out of the lineup for nearly five weeks. displaying remarkable resilience, Ovechkin returned to the Capitals’ lineup with renewed vigor, scoring four goals in his first five games back.
Adding to the drama, Ovechkin’s recent goal, his 891st career tally, occurred against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday, with Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in attendance. He now sits just three goals away from breaking the record. The presence of these hockey titans underscores the magnitude of the moment, a passing of the torch from one era to another.
With the capitals having seven games remaining after Wednesday, the clock is ticking. each game holds the potential for Ovechkin to etch his name at the top of the NHL’s goal-scoring pantheon.
It’s just a matter of time,whether it’s late this year,early next year,whenever,
Gretzky told NHL.com
Gretzky continued, “I mean, he’s a great player. He’s a great goal scorer.” This sentiment reflects the respect and admiration gretzky holds for Ovechkin’s accomplishments,acknowledging the inevitability of the record being broken.
Beyond the ice, Ovechkin is leveraging his historic chase to support a noble cause. Partnering with Hockey Fights Cancer and the V Foundation for Cancer Research, he launched “THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer.” This initiative demonstrates Ovechkin’s commitment to giving back,as he pledges to donate a dollar amount equal to his career NHL goal total for each goal he scores for the remainder of his career. Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Capitals’ ownership group, is matching all donations, amplifying the campaign’s impact.This mirrors efforts by other athletes like LeBron James, who use their platform to support social causes, connecting sports with broader societal issues.
Ovechkin continued his pursuit of Gretzky’s record on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Capitals fans, and hockey enthusiasts nationwide, are eagerly anticipating each game, aware that they could witness history in the making.
We will continue to track Ovechkin’s race to 894 goals and beyond throughout the season,providing updates and analysis as this historic chase unfolds. the nation is on the edge of its seat, wondering when “The Great Eight” will finally claim the throne.
NHL Top-10 in Career Goals
| Rank | player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | 894 |
| 2 | Alex Ovechkin | 892 |
| 3 | Gordie Howe | 801 |
| 4 | Jaromir Jagr | 766 |
| 5 | brett Hull | 741 |
| 6 | Marcel Dionne | 731 |
| 7 | Phil Esposito | 717 |
| 8 | Mike Gartner | 708 |
| 9 | Mark Messier | 694 |
| 10 | Steve Yzerman | 692 |
Remaining 2024-25 Regular-Season Games
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri,Apr 4 | vs. Chicago | 7 p.m. |
| Sun, Apr 6 | at Islanders | 12:30 p.m. |
| Thu, Apr 10 | vs. Carolina | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat, Apr 12 | at columbus | 7 p.m. |
| Sun, Apr 13 | vs. Columbus | 6 p.m. |
| Tue, Apr 15 | at Islanders | 8 p.m. |
| Thu, Apr 17 | at Pittsburgh | 7 p.m. |
ovechkin Milestone Goal Timeline
| Goal No. | Date | Opponent | Goalie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 2, 2005 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Pascal Leclaire |
| 50 | April 13, 2006 | Atlanta Thrashers | Mike Dunham |
| 100 | Oct. 12, 2007 | New York Rangers | Henrik Lundqvist |
| 200 | Feb. 5, 2009 | Los Angeles kings | Jonathan Quick |
| 300 | April 5, 2011 | Toronto Maple leafs | James Reimer |
| 400 | Dec. 20, 2013 | Carolina Hurricanes | (Empty Net) |
| 500 | Jan. 10,2016 | Ottawa Senators | Andrew Hammond |
| 600 | March 12,2018 | Winnipeg Jets | Connor Hellebuyck |
| 700 | Feb. 22, 2020 | New Jersey Devils | Mackenzie Blackwood |
| 800 | Dec. 13, 2022 | Chicago Blackhawks | petr Mrazek |
Hat Tricks by Season (32 Career)
| Season | Hat Tricks |
|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 1 |
| 2006-07 | 1 |
| 2007-08 | 3 |
| 2008-09 | 3 |
| 2009-10 | 1 |
| 2010-11 | 1 |
| 2011-12 | 0 |
| 2012-13 | 2 |
| 2013-14 | 1 |
| 2014-15 | 0 |
| 2015-16 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 2 |
What is Ovechkin’s current goal total?
This HTML code provides information about Alex Ovechkin’s goal-scoring milestones and some upcoming games. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Ovechkin’s goals All-Time Ranking
Purpose: This section lists Ovechkin’s ranking among all-time NHL goal scorers, along with the names of the players ahead of him and their goal totals.
Key Data:
Ovechkin is currently in the number 2 position, with a stated goal total of 822
Wayne Gretzky is listed in position number 1, with a goal total of 894
Other players mentioned (in order of all-time goals scored, from top)
Gordie Howe (801)
Jaromir Jagr (766)
Brett Hull (741)
Marcel Dionne (731)
Phil Esposito (717)
Mike Gartner (708)
Mark Messier (694)
Steve Yzerman (692)
2. Remaining 2024-25 Regular-Season Games
Purpose: Lists the upcoming games for a team (likely Ovechkin’s team, the Washington Capitals), including the date, opponent, and time. This section assumes the current date is approximately March 2025 to be relevant.
Key Data:
Dates: April 4th, April 6th, April 10th, April 12th, April 13th, April 15th, April 17th.
Opponents: Chicago, islanders (twice), Carolina, Columbus (twice), Pittsburgh.
Times: (ranging from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.Eastern Time)
3. Ovechkin Milestone Goal Timeline
Purpose: This section traces Ovechkin’s career by highlighting significant goals he scored, including the date, opponent, and the opposing goalie.
Key Data:
Specific goals listed:
Goal #1: October 2, 2005, vs. Columbus Blue jackets, Pascal Leclaire (goalie)
Goal #50: April 13, 2006, vs. Atlanta Thrashers,Mike Dunham (goalie)
Goal #100: October 12,2007,vs. New York Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist (goalie)
Goal #200: February 5, 2009, vs. Los Angeles Kings, Jonathan Swift (goalie)
Goal #300: April 5, 2011, vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, James Reimer (goalie)
Goal #400: December 20, 2013, vs. Carolina Hurricanes. (Empty net) This is vital as it states a goal was with NO goalie.
Goal #500: January 10, 2016, vs. Ottawa Senators, Andrew Hammond (goalie)
Overall:
This HTML provides a compelling snapshot of Ovechkin’s career achievements, upcoming games for his team, and makes this webpage useful to his fans.
