The Washington Capitals, as a team, have come to be defined by their iconic captain, Alex Ovechkin. When Ovi was chasing the elusive record for the most career goals, the team was fueled by his passion. When he finally surpassed Wayne Gretzky in April 2025 at a legendary match against the New York Islanders in the UBS Arena, it was not just Ovi who won; it was the entire team.
Now, despite the Capitals’ bottom-ranked position in the Metropolitan Division with 20 points, the team’s captain has surged to another exceptional personal feat by taking down another NHL great: Gordie Howe.
Showing No Signs of Slowing Down, Alex Ovechkin Breaks Record at 40
When Ovechkin broke Gretzky’s record to etch his name in history, it was the end of an era. When Ovi was chasing the record, the team chased after it too. His relentless drive played a significant role in turning the tables for the Capitals and propelling the team to Stanley Cup glory in 2018.
After the deed was done and Ovechkin had officially achieved what he had always wanted to, it marked the end of an era, not just for Ovi but for the team. Many believed Ovechkin’s peak was behind us, now that he was no longer continuously looking forward to surpassing Gretzky’s record.
Consequently, this season has not been the best for the Washington team. However, the Capitals have ended their two-game losing streak by securing a much-needed 2-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Capital One Arena. Ovi scored his 903rd career goal in the winning match, but more importantly, he broke Howe’s record of the most regular-season goals at a single venue in NHL history.
“Alex Ovechkin scored his 442nd goal at Capital One Arena, which passed Gordie Howe (441 at Detroit Olympia) for the most regular-season goals at a single venue in NHL history,” NHL Public Relations posted on their X account.
To begin with, Ovi had already surpassed Howe once when he became the player with the most career goals in NHL history. The latest record is just another addition to the 40-year-old’s already never-ending list of achievements. Ovi is also the third player among those 40 and over, since the 2020-21 season, to score goals in back-to-back games. The other two being Corey Perry and Patrick Marleau.
Moreover, the team’s victory over the Kings brought Los Angeles’ six-game road win streak to a screeching halt.
If this is indeed Ovi’s last season with the Capitals and in the league, his legacy is unrivaled. The Capitals captain’s impact will reverberate throughout the NHL community for many more years to come.
