Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin continues to add to his record-breaking résumé while leading his team through the season. Washington currently sits fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 23-17-6 record.
The Capitals are coming off a narrow 3–2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday. But Ovechkin still found a way to push closer to yet another all-time milestone.
Alex Ovechkin Closes In on Another NHL Record
Ovechkin recorded a goal and an assist in Sunday’s game. He reached the 20-goal mark for the 21st time in his NHL career. That goal moved him past Ron Francis for the second-most 20-goal seasons in league history. And left him just one short of tying Gordie Howe’s record.
He opened the scoring at 5:56 of the first period by firing a one-timer from the left circle on a 5-on-3 power play after a feed from John Carlson. The goal was his fifth in the past four games and pushed his NHL-record goal total to 917.
Howe failed to reach 20 goals in any of his first three NHL seasons. But he then scored at least 20 goals in 22 straight seasons. From 1949-50 to 1970-71 with the Detroit Red Wings. If Ovechkin reaches 20 goals again next season, he would tie that historic mark.
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This season, Ovechkin has 20 goals in 46 games. He is extending his place atop the NHL’s all-time goals list. He officially passed Wayne Gretzky’s longtime record of 894 goals last season. He scored his 895th goal on April 6, 2025, against the New York Islanders.
NHL Records Held by Alex Ovechkin
- Most goals in NHL history: 917
- Most Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies: 9
- Greatest goal scorer among left wings, including a single-season record of 65 goals in 2007-08
- Most goals for one franchise and most goals scored on the road
- Most goals by a Russian-born player
- All-time leader in power-play goals, game-opening goals, game-winning goals, and overtime goals
- Most 30-goal seasons: 19, with 15 straight (tied)
- Most 40-goal seasons (14), 45-goal seasons (12), and 50-goal seasons (9, tied)
- Fastest overtime goal: 6 seconds on December 15, 2006
- Most different goaltenders scored against in NHL history
- Most goals scored in a single arena: 442
- Most points, shots, and career shots on goal by a left wing
- Only player to win the Hart, Art Ross, Rocket Richard, and Ted Lindsay Awards in the same season
- Only player named to the All-NHL First Team in each of his first five NHL seasons
- He was named to the First and Second All-NHL Teams in the same season (2012–13)
Ovechkin continues to prove that age is just a number. And with every game, he moves one step closer to adding another historic moment to his legendary NHL career. Up next, Ovechkin and the Capitals will look ahead to a matchup against the Canadiens on Tuesday.
