Alex Ovechkin, the iconic forward of the Washington Capitals, is now just eight goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894 goals. Despite the historic milestone within reach, Ovechkin remains calm and focused, ensuring that the pursuit of the record doesn’t distract him from his ultimate goal: helping his team succeed.
Ovechkin’s approach to chasing Gretzky’s record is a testament to his professionalism and legacy in the NHL. His ability to perform under pressure and maintain his focus on the team is one of the many reasons he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. As the anticipation builds with each game, hockey fans around the world are tuning in to witness history in the making.
“You’re just focusing on different things,” Ovechkin said Monday, according to NHL.com. “Tomorrow it’s a new day. We’re going to play against a good team fighting for the playoffs, so we concentrate on that.”
Capitals’ recent performance
The Capitals returned home after a successful road trip to California, where they won two of three games. Although Ovechkin was held scoreless in the first two games, he netted his 887th career goal in the final game against the San Jose Sharks, keeping him on pace to break the record.
Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates to a puck during the third period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 11, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ovechkin’s professionalism amid the record chase
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery praised Ovechkin’s ability to handle the pressure of the record chase with grace and focus. “You can tell certain moments of what’s going on, but very rare, very rare,” Carbery said. “When you’re in the game, and he probably would say, ‘It’s no different for me,’ but I can feel it, and it’s probably just a product of our guys and the excitement—even for myself internally—when he gets into scoring situations.”
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Carbery also noted that opponents are paying extra attention to Ovechkin as he gets closer to the record. “But man, he’s such a pro when it comes to this stuff,” Carbery added. “He’s been down this road chasing different records, pressure, all this stuff. So, he handles it with such class and deflects it all, making it more about what we’re doing as a team.”
Will Ovechkin break the record this season?
With 15 games remaining in the Capitals’ schedule, the possibility of Ovechkin surpassing Gretzky’s record this season is still alive. However, Ovechkin remains focused on the task at hand, taking things one game at a time.
“Well, guys, it’s how I said,” Ovechkin remarked. “We concentrate game by game, and we’ll see what happens.”
Whether he breaks the record this season or the next, one thing is certain: Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record is a historic moment for the NHL, and his professionalism and focus continue to inspire fans and players alike.
