Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin is inching closer to an NHL scoring record that many thought was unbreakable. The 39-year-old Ovechkin is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record of 894. "The Great One" scored his final goal on March 29, 1999. "The Great Eight" could very well surpass that mark 26 years later. Ovechkin entered the 2024-25 NHL season with 853 career NHL goals. He started the season off red-hot with 15 goals in 18 games. But after suffering a broken fibula in November , he missed five weeks. That time off didn't affect his goal-scoring prowess: He recorded four goals in his first five games back from injury. The winger boosted his goal total to 882 with his 32nd career hat trick on Sunday, scoring three times during the Capitals' 7-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. With 25 games remaining in the regular season, that record is well within reach. "It's just a matter of time, whether it's late this year, early next year, whenever," Gretzky told NHL.com earlier this season about Ovechkin's chances of breaking his record. "I mean, he's a great player. He's a great goal scorer." NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in December that he will follow Ovechkin around when he's within four or five goals of the record, with Gretzky accompanying him. Ovechkin will continue his chase for Gretzky's mark on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. We will track Ovechkin's race to 894 goals and beyond all season.
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