In another statement of his greatness, Alex Ovechkin has come dangerously close to bettering another Wayne Gretzky record. Less than a year ago, during a match against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena, Ovechkin established himself as the NHL’s leading goal scorer by toppling Gretzky; he had chased the title for years. However, there is one record that might elude him forever, no matter how hard Ovi tries.
Alex Ovechkin Unlikely to Dethrone Wayne Gretzky in Shorthanded Goals
At 40, Ovi has a legacy unlike any other. There are very few active NHL players who can rival his impact on their team. When Ovi was chasing the Gretzky record to displace him as the greatest goal scorer in the history of the League, the whole franchise came together to aid the Washington Capitals captain in his pursuit.
Even at his age, Ovechkin simply cannot stop breaking records. In November 2025, he surpassed Gordie Howe to become the player in NHL history to score the most goals at a single venue. At the time, Ovi had 442 goals at the Capital One Arena, while Howe had 441 at the Detroit Olympia throughout his NHL career.
Yet again, as the Capitals struggle to get back in playoff contention, Ovechkin is staring straight at a Gretzky record. Regular-season and playoffs combined, Ovi currently has 998 goals. If he manages to score two more, he will become the second player in NHL history, besides Gretzky, to score 1,000 goals, including playoffs.
Considering Ovechkin’s age-defying tendencies, best believe he is on the cusp of joining Gretzky at the 1,000-goal club. However, when it comes to shorthanded goals, the hockey GOAT shall remain untouchable for the foreseeable future. With 73 shorthanded goals, Gretzky is the all-time leader. Ovi, on the other hand, despite his long and illustrious career, has only 5.
“You may recall when Alex Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky last season to become the NHL’s all-time goals leader. Yeah, that’s not happening with shorthanded goals. Gretzky is the all-time leader with 73. Second is Mark Messier (63). Third is Steve Yzerman (50). Ovechkin has five,” journalist Darren Haynes shared on social media.
Gretzky will remain unrivaled in the shorthanded goals department for a very long time. Mark Messier is a close second with 63, while Steve Yzerman has 50. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has fewer than 10 shorthanded goals in his career, while Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby has 4.
But at the end of the day, the community is on the verge of witnessing another Ovi record. As underwhelming as the Capitals’ season may be, knowing that 40-year-old Ovechkin has some real odds of scoring 1,000 goals before his retirement ought to bring unparalleled satisfaction to not only fans of the franchise but also to hockey fans across the League.
