Alex Ovechkin Inches Closer to NHL Goal Record with Wayne Gretzky’s Support

Alex Ovechkin, the 39-year-old star forward of the Washington Capitals, is on the cusp of making history in the NHL as he pursues Wayne Gretzky‘s all-time goal-scoring record. With 854 goals to his name, Ovechkin is just 41 goals away from surpassing Gretzky’s record of 894 goals.

Ovechkin has received significant support from Gretzky himself, who has been a constant source of encouragement. Gretzky has been in touch with Ovechkin, offering words of motivation even during slumps. “It’s great,” Ovechkin said, “Even when I have a slump, he will sometimes text me and say, ‘Don’t worry about it. It will come.’ He’s on my side.”.

Despite being held without a goal in the Capitals’ first three games, Ovechkin broke through with a goal in a 6-5 overtime victory against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. This season, he aims to continue his strong form, having scored at least 42 goals in 13 of his previous 19 NHL seasons, including 42 goals in the 2022-23 season.

In addition to his pursuit of the goal-scoring record, Ovechkin is also nearing another milestone: scoring against the most goalies in NHL history. He has already scored against 157 goalies and is just a few short of surpassing Jaromir Jagr‘s record of 178 goalies. There are 21 goalies this season whom Ovechkin has not yet scored against, providing him with ample opportunities to break this record as well.

The upcoming game against the Philadelphia Flyers, where Ovechkin will face off against Russian winger Matvei Michkov, adds an interesting dynamic. Michkov, a 19-year-old rookie, is seen as a potential successor to Ovechkin’s legacy as a premier Russian player in the NHL. Despite their differences in playing style and size, both players are known for their exceptional ability to find scoring opportunities.

Gretzky believes that Ovechkin’s ability to score from anywhere on the ice, coupled with his lethal shot, makes him a great goal scorer. “It’s just a matter of time, whether it’s late this year, early next year, whenever. I mean, he’s a great player. He’s a great goal scorer,” Gretzky said.