Alex Ovechkin continues to inch closer to being the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. The ‘Great 8′ scored two empty-net goals in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
The goals were his 794th and 795th of his career, pushing him four away from becoming the third player ever to score 800 goals. He also moves 99 away from the Great One No. 99 Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin now sits seven goals from passing Gordie Howe for second on the all-time list.
Alex Ovechkin entered the season with 780 goals. Now with 15 goals through 28 games, he is on pace to score 43 goals this season. That will be his 13th career 40-goal season, surpassing Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
Ovechkin has scored at least 48 goals in seven of his last nine seasons. Of those seasons, he scored 24 goals in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
Being less than 100 goals away puts the moment closer in sight. As Gretzky previously said, there is no doubt that Ovechkin will become the league’s all-time leading goal scorer. The 37-year-old is in the second year of a five-year deal he signed last year with the objective of him accomplishing the milestone in a Washington Capital uniform.
