Alex Ovechkin is chasing the NHL’s all-time goals record. He is currently third and right behind Gordie Howe for second place. But on Thursday, Ovechkin tied Howe for another milestone with his second-period goal against the Detroit Red Wings.
Ovechkin deposited the puck off a feed from Evgeny Kuznetsov past Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso for his 786th career goal. That ties Howe for the most goals scored by a player with one franchise.
It’s fitting Ovechkin equaled Howe in Detroit, where the Hall of Famer played 25 seasons. Howe scored 786 of his 801 NHL goals in a Red Wings uniform.
“It is huge, obviously,” Ovechkin said tying Howe, per Samantha Pell of the Washington Post. “I played my whole career here in Washington and to tied with a legend it is pretty big number and pretty cool accomplishment.”
Ovechkin’s next goal will sit him alone at the top. He is also 15 goals behind Howe for second on the league’s all-time goal list.
The goal also marked Ovechkin’s 400th career goal scored on the road, according to the Capitals. Ovechkin only trails the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer Wayne Gretzky (402), for the most goals scored on the road.
Meanwhile, Husso became the 161st different goaltender Ovechkin has scored on during his stellar career. Ovechkin ranks fourth in NHL history for goals scored on the most goaltenders behind Jaromir Jagr (178), Patrick Marleau (177), and Mark Messier (164).
