Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky for most career goals: Breaking down his stats

[ASFN Admin]

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goal record.

Ovechkin, 39, entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky's record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Washington captain scored twice on Friday to tie the record and again on Sunday at the New York Islanders to become the NHL's all-time leader.

Ovechkin scored 15 times in his first 18 games before suffering a fractured left fibula during a Nov. 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club. He has scored 27 times in 43 games since he returned on Dec. 28 and ranks third in the NHL in goals.

This season, he also passed Gordie Howe for most goals scored after 30 and set records for game-winning goals, first-period goals and goalies scored against in his career. He moved into second place with 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons and tied the record for most franchises against which he has a hat trick. He became the first player to score 200 goals in three different decades.

Here's a breakdown of Ovechkin's statistics in the completed Gretzky chase (through April 6):

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?​

Ovechkin has 895 career goals, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record.

Alex Ovechkin's goals this season​

Ovechkin has 42 goals and 27 assists in 61 games, despite missing 16 games with the leg injury. He has played in the same number of career games as Gretzky.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?​

He broke his tie with Gretzky with a power-play goal in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. He was set up by Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome and ripped a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin in the second period. Gretzky, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Ovechkin spoke during an on-ice ceremony before the game resumed. Ovechkin finished the game with one goal on five shots.

GOAL NO. 895 FOR ALEX OVECHKIN pic.twitter.com/miN550EEg1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 6, 2025

When is Alex Ovechkin's next game?​

The Capitals play the Carolina Hurricanes at home on Thursday. He'll get a chance to be acknowledged by the home fans and add to his record total. He has 52 goals in 92 regular-season games, including two in two games this season, against the Hurricanes.

Alex Ovechkin vs. Wayne Gretzky stats​

Games: Gretzky 1,487 | Ovechkin 1,487

Goals: Gretzky 894 | Ovechkin 895

Assists: Gretzky 1,963 | Ovechkin 724

Points: Gretzky 2,857 | Ovechkin 1,619

Alex Ovechkin goals in 2024-25​

• Oct. 19: 1 vs. New Jersey
• Oct. 23: 1 vs. Philadelphia
• Oct. 29: 2 vs. N.Y. Rangers
• Oct. 31: 1 vs. Montreal
• Nov. 2: 1 vs. Columbus
• Nov. 3: 1 vs. Carolina
• Nov. 6: 1 vs. Nashville
• Nov. 9: 2 vs. St. Louis
• Nov. 17: 3 vs. Vegas
• Nov. 18: 2 vs. Utah
• Dec. 28: 1 vs. Toronto
• Dec. 29: 1 vs. Detroit
• Jan. 2: 1 vs. Minnesota
• Jan. 4: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers
• Jan. 11: 1 vs. Nashville
• Jan. 16: 1 vs. Ottawa
• Jan. 23: 1 vs. Seattle
• Jan. 30: 1 vs. Ottawa
• Feb 1: 1 vs. Winnipeg
• Feb. 4: 1 vs. Florida
• Feb. 6: 1 vs. Philadelphia
• Feb. 23: 3 vs. Edmonton
• Feb. 25: 1 vs. Calgary
• March 1: 1 vs. Tampa Bay
• March 5: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers
• March 9: 1 vs. Seattle
• March 15: 1 vs. San Jose
• March 19: 1 vs. Philadelphia
• March 25: 1 vs. Winnipeg
• March 30: 1 vs. Buffalo
• April 1: 1 vs. Boston
• April 2: 1 vs. Carolina
• April 4: 2 vs. Chicago
• April 6: 1 vs. N.Y. Islanders

Alex Ovechkin career goals breakdown​

• Even strength: 565, third overall
• Power play: 325, a record
• Short-handed: 5
• Empty net: 65, a record
• Game winners: 136, a record
• Overtime goals: 27, a record
• Multi-goal games: 179, second overall
• Goalies scored against: 183, a record. Sorokin, who gave up Sunday's record-breaker, was the 183rd. Ovechkin didn't score on him in their first three meetings.
• Hat tricks: 32, tied for fifth overall. Ovechkin has hat tricks against 20 franchises, tying Brett Hull's record.
• 20-goal seasons: 20, tied for second
• 30-goal seasons: 19, a record
• 40-goal seasons: 14, a record

Alex Ovechkin empty-net goals​

Ovechkin has a record 65 empty-net goals, but Gretzky is up there, too, with 56. Ovechkin passed Gretzky in that category last season.

Alex Ovechkin goals by season​

Season: Goals, career total

• 2005-06: 52, 52
• 2006-07: 46, 98
• 2007-08: 65*, 163
• 2008-09: 56*, 219
• 2009-10: 50, 269
• 2010-11: 32, 301
• 2011-12: 38, 339
• 2012-13: 32*, 371
• 2013-14: 51*, 422
• 2014-15: 53*, 475
• 2015-16: 50*, 525
• 2016-17: 33, 558
• 2017-18: 49*, 607
• 2018-19: 51*, 658
• 2019-20: 48*, 706
• 2020-21: 24, 730
• 2021-22: 50, 780
• 2022-23: 42, 822
• 2023-24: 31, 853
• 2024-25: 42, 895

*-led league in goals that season

NHL all-time goal scorers​

The top 21 NHL all-time goal scorers all have 600 or more goals. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr, who are still playing.

1. Alex Ovechkin, 895 goals in 1,487 games

2. Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

17. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

18. Sidney Crosby, 622 goals in 1,347 games

19. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

20. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

21. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Ovechkin goals tracker: Capitals star breaks Wayne Gretzky record

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