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Can Alex Ovechkin Overtake Wayne Gretzky's Goal Record With 20 Games Left in the NHL Season?

Can Alex Ovechkin Overtake Wayne Gretzky's Goal Record With 20 Games Left in the NHL Season?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 6, 2025, 19:07 IST

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Alex Ovechkin is nearing Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894 goals. With 885 goals already scored and 20 games left in the season, Ovechkin needs just 10 more to surpass the record. Capitals fans are eagerly anticipating each goal. Ovechkin's consistency and efficiency have been vital in his pursuit of this historic milestone.

Can Alex Ovechkin Overtake Wayne Gretzky's Goal Record With 20 Games Left in the NHL Season?

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Hold onto your hockey sticks, folks, because Alex Ovechkin is on the verge of rewriting history — and we're all just living in his goal-scoring world. With just 20 games left in the 2024-25 NHL season, the Capitals' star is a mere 10 goals away from smashing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894 goals. Yes, the seemingly untouchable record that’s loomed over the league for decades is now within Ovi's grasp, and the excitement is electric.

The Great Eight is chasing The Great One — and it's closer than ever

Alex Ovechkin's latest goal tally sits at 885, and he's been on an absolute tear lately, netting six goals in his last six games. The math is simple: he needs 10 more to eclipse Wayne Gretzky's legendary mark, and with 20 games left on the calendar, the odds are heating up. In fact, there’s now a 52% chance he could pull off this historic feat before the season even ends.

His next shot at glory? March 7, 2025, against the Detroit Red Wings — a team Ovi has absolutely feasted on throughout his career, lighting them up for 25 goals in 36 games. If there’s ever a perfect storm for a goal-fest, this might be it.

Let’s break it down: How does Alex Ovechkin stack up against Wayne Gretzky?

What makes Alex Ovechkin’s run even more jaw-dropping is how he's accomplished it in an era where goal-scoring doesn’t come easy. Wayne Gretzky's reign happened during a high-scoring era, but Ovi has been breaking records in a league dominated by airtight defenses and superstar goalies.

Goals per game: Both Ovechkin and Gretzky boast a 0.60 goals-per-game average — proving Ovi’s consistency is on par with the best to ever do it.
Game-winning goals: Here’s a spicy stat — Ovi already has 124 game-winners compared to Gretzky's 91. When the pressure’s on, Ovi doesn’t just show up — he delivers.
Shooting percentage: While Gretzky had a slick 17.6% shooting success rate, Ovi’s is 12.9% — which only highlights how much harder it is to score in today’s NHL.

But numbers alone don’t tell the full story — it’s the how behind Ovechkin’s goals. His signature one-timer from the left circle — that lethal “Ovi spot” — is practically a cheat code, and despite teams knowing it’s coming, they still can’t stop it.

The Capitals' race to history and the fans' wild anticipation

Of course, while Ovechkin’s laser focus remains on helping the Washington Capitals dominate the Eastern Conference, the buzz around his record chase is undeniable.

Capitals fans are rallying behind their captain, packing arenas and counting down each goal like it’s New Year’s Eve.

With every slap shot, the anticipation grows. Will he break the record at home in front of a roaring D.C. crowd? Or could it happen on the road, adding a dramatic twist to his historic moment?

Right now, it’s not a matter of if — it’s when. At his current pace of 0.6 goals per game, Ovi could realistically shatter Gretzky’s record by late March or early April. Imagine the scene: sticks raised, crowd going wild, and Ovechkin skating into immortality.
So, grab your jerseys and start counting those goals. The Great Eight is chasing The Great One, and we're all front-row witnesses to hockey history in the making.
Also read - Alex Ovechkin Inches Closer to Wayne Gretzky's Goal Record but Stays Laser-Focused on Team Wins

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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