Alex Ovechkin is on track to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.

Ovechkin has 869 goals after scoring 15 in the first 18 games this season. He needs 26 to set a new record.

Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. Ovechkin resumed his pursuit Saturday night at Toronto in the Capitals' first game out of the Christmas break.

Alex Ovechkin’s last goal scored

Ovechkin scored an empty-netter in the third period of a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, getting goal 869 in his first game back from injury.

When is Ovechkin’s next game?

The Capitals play at Detroit on Sunday. Ovechkin has scored 24 goals against them during his career.

What are Ovechkin’s stats?

Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals with 316 and shots on goal with 6,693.

He also has 132 game-winning goals, four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's mark (135).

Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr.

Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).

Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists and is now at 707. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.

Who are the NHL’s leading scorers?

Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second all time behind Gretzky (894).

Who previously held the career goals record?

Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons. Ovechkin has played in 1,445 total games so far.

Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.

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The Associated Press