Alex Ovechkin: A Look at the Capitals Star by the Numbers After Passing Wayne Gretzky

After achieving his 895th goal against the New York Islanders on Sunday, Alex Ovechkin has solidified his place as the top goal scorer in the history of the NHL. His journey to surpass Gretzky`s record spanned two decades and is marked by remarkable statistics.

Wayne Gretzky`s all-time goal record was once considered almost unbreakable. However, Ovechkin entered the league and quickly established himself as a prolific scorer, netting 52 goals in his rookie season of 2005-06. He continued this scoring pace consistently for twenty years.

Ovechkin`s enduring career and consistent performance are truly impressive. Throughout his career, he has achieved extraordinary numbers, even exceeding Gretzky in several statistical categories. Ovechkin has become renowned for his prowess on power plays, in crucial moments, and when playing away games.

Becoming the NHL`s all-time leading scorer was a lengthy endeavor for Ovechkin. We will now examine the key statistics that illustrate his path to this achievement, with insights from CBS Sports research.

1,487 Games Played

For many years, numerous hockey experts believed Gretzky`s all-time goal record would remain unchallenged. Ovechkin not only broke this record but also surpassed Gretzky in the same number of games played. Gretzky scored 894 goals in 1,487 games throughout his career. Considering the physical demands of hockey, just reaching 1,486 games is a significant accomplishment, let alone breaking the all-time goal record.

565 Even-Strength Goals

Ovechkin is celebrated as the most dangerous power play weapon ever, and rightfully so. However, his 565 even-strength goals are also noteworthy. This places him just behind Gordie Howe for the second-most in NHL history in this category, although Gretzky still leads with 617. In the coming years, Ovechkin could potentially top this list as well.

325 Power Play Goals

A hallmark of an exceptional competitor is their ability to succeed even when opponents anticipate their moves. This has been the story of Ovechkin`s power play performance throughout his career. Everyone in the arena knows he is likely to shoot a one-timer from the left circle, yet no one has effectively stopped it. Perhaps, no one is willing to get in front of such a shot. Fittingly, the record-breaking goal was Ovechkin`s 325th power play goal.

65 Empty-Net Goals

There has been considerable discussion about Ovechkin`s record of 65 empty-net goals. It`s important to consider this statistic in context. Gretzky played during a period of higher overall scoring in the NHL. Any difference in empty-net goals is likely balanced by the improvement in goaltending since Gretzky`s era. Furthermore, accumulating empty-net goal opportunities reflects Ovechkin`s team`s success in winning games. Notably, Ovechkin ensured his 895th goal was not an empty-netter.

5 Shorthanded Goals

If asked to guess the number of shorthanded goals Ovechkin would score in his career, many might have guessed lower than five. It`s surprising this number is even this high, given Ovechkin is not particularly known for his defensive skills. Perhaps he could have been given more shorthanded ice time. However, his last shorthanded goal was scored back in 2021-22.

2 Penalty Shot Goals

This number is lower than expected, but it is twice the number of penalty shot goals Gretzky scored in his career. It`s remarkable that these two top scorers in NHL history have only combined for three penalty shot goals.

136 Game-Winning Goals

This is another record held by Ovechkin, which he broke with his 894th career goal. Ovechkin now has the most game-winning goals, surpassing Jaromir Jagr. This is an area where Ovechkin has an advantage over Gretzky, partially due to the introduction of the 3-on-3 overtime period. Regardless, this is a testament to Ovechkin`s ability to perform in critical moments throughout his career.

32 Hat Tricks

While Gretzky often scored goals in bursts, both within games and across seasons, Ovechkin`s scoring has been characterized by consistent production. Even with 32 career hat tricks, Ovechkin trails Gretzky by 18 for the all-time record in that category. This statistic highlights Ovechkin`s remarkable consistency over nearly 1,500 career games.

65-Goal Season (Highest)

Ovechkin`s highest single-season goal total is 65. This ties him for 24th in NHL history, and Gretzky has surpassed this in four seasons, including seasons with 92 and 87 goals. Ovechkin has never reached these heights in an 82-game season, but his durability and reliability have been key. He has consistently found the net throughout his career.

14 40-Goal Seasons

Ovechkin`s 893rd goal, which brought him within one of Gretzky`s record, also marked his 14th 40-goal season. Ovechkin already held the record for the most 40-goal seasons, and he has extended his lead over Gretzky. Ovechkin`s consistency is striking; regardless of his age, he is consistently relied upon to score 40 goals each year.

14-Game Goal Drought (Longest)

Ovechkin has never experienced a goal drought longer than 14 games, and such droughts have been infrequent. His power-play dominance has helped him avoid extended periods without scoring. In contrast, Gretzky`s longest goal drought lasted 21 games. This further illustrates Ovechkin`s consistent scoring ability.

456 Road Goals

Ovechkin has consistently excelled at scoring in away games. His 456 road goals are an NHL record. While fans in Washington D.C. have seen him score many times, fans in opposing arenas have witnessed his scoring prowess even more frequently.

57 Goals vs. Single Opponent (Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers)

Fans of the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets have seen Ovechkin score against their team more than any other fan base. When the Jets were the Thrashers, they were in the same division as Ovechkin, and he consistently scored against them. This is why this statistic remains significant even though the Jets and Capitals have been in different conferences for over a decade.

Interestingly, Gretzky also scored the most goals against a Jets franchise, though a different one. He scored 79 goals against the original Winnipeg Jets, who later relocated to Arizona and became the Coyotes before moving to Utah for the 2024-25 season.