Todd McLellan voices strong reminder about Alex Ovechkin, ahead of Red Wings vs Capitals

The Detroit Red Wings are looking to build a winning streak amid their playoff push in the 2024-25 NHL season. In order to do that, Todd McLellan’s team will have to defeat the Eastern Conference leader, the Washington Capitals, led by a red-hot Alex Ovechkin.

The Red Wings face a big challenge, but one they are eager to take on—especially if they’re serious about ending their eight-season Stanley Cup Playoffs drought. Detroit’s matchup with Washington will have a playoff-like feel to it, serving as an early test for McLellan to assess what needs improvement within his team.

It’s impossible to talk about the Capitals without addressing Ovechkin’s late-season run and his pursuit of the league’s all-time goals record. McLellan issued a strong message about the Russian goal machine in Washington, reminding his players not to lose sight of him—though it’s much easier said than done.

“You know where [Ovechkin] is,” McLellan reminded his players, per DetHockeyNow. “Teams have just went and stood right beside him and he’s still good enough to get in the opening. He’s good enough to fire pucks through people. He’s powerful enough to do that.

Head coach Todd McLellan speaks during a press conference following the NHL Global Series match between Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings at Rod Laver Arena on September 24, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

“Their team and their power play evolution has also allowed him to roam around a little bit. He’s not always just in that spot. When somebody takes him away. He and [John] Carlson are prepared to rotate and move around.”

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Going into matchups with the Capitals, few dare speak up against Ovechkin, fearing they might summon a beast capable of dismantling any gameplan and scoring in bunches.

McLellan makes honest admission about Ovi’s record-chase

Ovechkin is only eight goals away from surpassing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL‘s all-time leading goalscorer. It’s highly improbable that the Capitals’ captain won’t own the record, either by this season’s end, or next season. However, it did seem like a longshot some time ago, and even on the eve of this campaign, when the 39-year-old was 41 goals behind Gretzky’s 894 tallies.

“No, I didn’t think it would be broken,” McLellan stated about the NHL goals record. “I hope he’s not going to break it [against us tonight]. That would be ugly,”

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals reacts after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period of the game at Capital One Arena on October 31, 2024.

Fortunately for McLellan, no player has ever scored eight goals in an NHL game—not even Gretzky or Ovechkin. Joe Malone holds the record for most goals in a game, after scoring seven times during the Quebec Bulldogs’ 10-6 victory over the Toronto St. Patricks on January 31st, 1920.

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With the Red Wings and Capitals not meeting again this season, it’s safe to say Ovechkin won’t be setting that new milestone on March 18 against Detroit. Regardless, McLellan wants to see his team shut down the Caps’ offense—and Ovechkin altogether—during this pivotal, must-win game.