The GR8 Chase: Ovechkin 12 goals from passing Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 career goals was once thought to be unbreakable, but Alex Ovechkin had other ideas.

The Washington Capitals superstar has scored at a prodigious rate throughout his 20-year NHL career, and he now sits just 12 goals from passing The Great One's all-time mark.

With the record firmly in Ovi's sights, we'll be tracking his chase the rest of the way.

12 goals to go

When: Feb. 25, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: Calgary Flames
Opposing goalie: Dan Vladar

Ovechkin notched his 883rd career goal with a power-play tally early in the third period of a 3-1 loss to the Flames. It was his 30th of the season, marking the 19th time in 20 campaigns that he's reached that plateau. Ovechkin became the fourth player in NHL history to net 30 in a season at age 39 or older, joining Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk, and Teemu Selanne.

13 goals to go

When: Feb. 23, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: Edmonton Oilers
Opposing goalie: Empty-net goal

Ovechkin put an exclamation mark on a dominant outing against the Oilers with a long-range empty-net snipe for goal No. 882. The hatty was his second of the season and 32nd of his career, matching Phil Esposito for the fifth most in NHL history.

14 goals to go

When: Feb. 23, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: Edmonton Oilers
Opposing goalie: Calvin Pickard

Ovechkin scored his second goal in 10 minutes against the Oilers to move within 14 of glory. His 881st career tally was a replica of one we've seen hundreds of times: a power-play one-timer from the left circle. It also stood as the game-winner, which tied Ovi with Jaromir Jagr for the most such goals in NHL history (135).

15 goals to go

When: Feb. 23, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: Edmonton Oilers
Opposing goalie: Calvin Pickard

Ovechkin recorded goal No. 880 after the Oilers allowed him to waltz into the slot uncovered in a battle of two Stanley Cup hopefuls. Pickard is the 181st goalie Ovechkin has beaten in his career, adding to a record he broke earlier this season.

16 goals to go

When: Feb. 6, 2025
Where: Wells Fargo Center
Opponent: Philadelphia Flyers
Opposing goalie: Ivan Fedotov

Ovechkin notched a goal in his fourth consecutive game to tally No. 879 and move within 16 of Gretzky. Fedotov is the 180th goalie Ovechkin has scored on, adding to the NHL record he set earlier this season.

17 goals to go

When: Feb. 4, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: Florida Panthers
Opposing goalie: Empty-net goal

Ovechkin inched closer to the record without an opposing goalie in the crease, but it came from way downtown and with only a fraction of a second left on the clock. The tally was his 25th of the season, and he increased his NHL-record total of empty-netters to 63.

18 goals to go

When: Feb. 1, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: Winnipeg Jets
Opposing goalie: Connor Hellebuyck

No. 877 was no cheapie, coming on a one-time blast from the top of the zone that was too much to handle for Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and 2025 favorite. It also came at a crucial moment, tying the game for Washington.

19 goals to go

When: Jan. 30, 2025
Where: Canadian Tire Centre
Opponent: Ottawa Senators
Opposing goalie: Anton Forsberg

Most of Ovechkin's power-play goals have come from one-timers on the left half wall, but this one was slightly different. With the puck at the top of the zone and no passing options, Ovechkin ripped home a laser of a wrist shot off the post and in.

20 goals to go

When: Jan. 23, 2025
Where: Climate Pledge Arena
Opponent: Seattle Kraken
Opposing goalie: Empty-net goal

Ovechkin pulled within 20 of passing Gretzky with an empty-netter to seal Washington's 3-0 victory in Seattle. It was the 62nd such goal of his career, already the most of all time.

21 goals to go

When: Jan. 16, 2025
Where: Canadian Tire Centre
Opponent: Ottawa Senators
Opposing goalie: Leevi Merilainen

Ovechkin sunk the Senators with a wicked wrister to move within 21 goals of Gretzky. The Capitals icon made history with this tally, scoring on the 179th netminder of his career to break his tie with Jaromir Jagr for the all-time record.

22 goals to go

When: Jan. 11, 2025
Where: Bridgestone Arena
Opponent: Nashville Predators
Opposing goalie: Empty-net goal

Ovechkin blocked a shot late in regulation and cruised to goal No. 873 with a sweat-free finish to seal a victory for the Capitals. Although it was an empty-netter, the marker was significant: Ovi joined Gordie Howe on the exclusive list of players to record 20 straight 20-goal seasons.

23 goals to go

When: Jan. 4, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: New York Rangers
Opposing goalie: Jonathan Quick

Ovechkin came back from a 16-game absence due to a broken fibula and picked up right where he left off. He scored his fourth goal in the five contests after his return by tucking one just under Jonathan Quick's pad. The tally gave the Capitals a 5-3 lead and would stand as the game-winner in Washington's 7-4 victory, the 133rd game-winning goal of the Russian's magnificent career.

24 goals to go

When: Jan. 2, 2025
Where: Capital One Arena
Opponent: Minnesota Wild
Opposing goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury

Ovechkin beat Marc-Andre Fleury, his longtime rival, with a long-range wrister late in the second period of Washington's first game of 2025. It was Ovechkin's 28th career goal on Fleury, marking the most he's scored against any netminder. Fleury would get the last laugh, though: The Wild earned a 4-3 shootout victory.

25 goals to go

When: Dec. 29, 2024
Where: Little Caesars Arena
Opponent: Detroit Red Wings
Opposing goalie: Alex Lyon

Ovechkin got closer to passing Gretzky's all-time mark in the final days of 2024. He ripped a snap one-timer from the faceoff circle in the first period, though the Red Wings took a 4-1 lead after the frame en route to a 4-2 victory.