Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 892nd career goal during a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on April 2, 2025. This achievement places him just two goals shy of tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894 goals and three away from surpassing it.
Ovechkin’s goal came late in the second period during a five-on-three power play. He received a pass from Jakob Chychrun and executed his signature one-timer from the top of the left circle, beating Hurricanes’ goaltender Frederik Andersen with 34.5 seconds remaining.
At 39 years old, Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record has been a focal point of the NHL season. With seven games remaining, he has the opportunity to either tie or break the record before the season concludes. If not, Ovechkin has another year on his contract to achieve this feat as he turns 40.
The Capitals’ next game is scheduled against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Notably, Wayne Gretzky is expected to be in attendance, adding significance to the potential record-tying or breaking moment.
Despite Ovechkin’s individual success, the Capitals have faced challenges, marking their fourth loss in five games with the defeat against the Hurricanes. The team aims to rally and support their captain’s historic pursuit in the remaining games of the season.
As Ovechkin closes in on this monumental achievement, the hockey world watches with anticipation, recognizing the rarity and significance of potentially witnessing a new all-time goal-scoring leader in the NHL.
