Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin has 868 goals after scoring 15 in the first 18 games this season. He needs 27 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 injuring his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision and getting listed as week to week. Ovechkin scored twice in a 6-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Monday night, getting goals 867 and 868 in his first game in Salt Lake City before leaving in the third period following a shin-on-shin collision with Jack McBain.
Ovechkin's goals on Utah goaltender Connor Ingram marked the 178th different goaltender he has scored on in his 20-year NHL career. He is tied for the league record with Jaromir Jagr. His first goal came with 8:55 left in the first period.
He struck again 5:38 into the second. It was his 177th multigoal game, which is second to Gretzky (189). It's unclear when Ovechkin will play next.
Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals with 316 and shots on goal with 6,690. He also has 132 game-winning goals , four away from breaking Jagr's mark (135). Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr.
Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists and is now at 707. He joine.