Alex Ovechkin has scored 26 goals in his first 38 games played of the 2024-25 campaign. His 0.68 goal-per-game rate is nearly a full tenth higher than his career average (.60), and he is on pace to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record by the beginning of April.
Ovechkin merely continuing at that pace for the rest of the year would be considered stunning and almost unheard of for a 39-year-old — especially in today’s fast-paced NHL. However, Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery thinks Ovechkin has another level he can go to.
“I think his best hockey is to come in the season,” Carbery said Saturday. “That’s the way I feel. I feel that way because I remember, at the beginning of the year, and then the injury. In my head, at 39 years old, missing that amount of time and trying to come back and get caught up in the National Hockey League. I think that’s really, really hard, and I saw a difference in his individual game. I think he’s going to look even better coming out of the break. That’s just my own personal opinion. These last 27 games – I’m looking forward to seeing them.”
When Ovechkin broke his leg against the Utah Hockey Club in November, he was leading the NHL in goal-scoring with 15 goals through his first 18 games. The Russian sniper was on pace to score a career-high 68 goals and was doing so while dominating five-on-five play with his linemates Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas.
While Ovechkin’s production has only minimally slowed since his return to Washington’s lineup in late December, the Capitals haven’t seen that same sort of even-strength domination with him and Strome on the ice. Carbery is hopeful that this upcoming extended break will allow Ovechkin to finally take his foot off the gas and relax for the first time since the offseason.
“Yeah, I think [it will be especially good for him],” Carbery said. “I think mentally and physically. I think the physical part of it – still working his way back from the injury. And so I think this will give him, his body, a really good reset and get him fully caught up to the rest of the league when he comes back and he’s refreshed and ready for the final 27.”
Carbery has good reason to believe that some time off will boost Ovechkin. After Ovechkin had an ice-cold start to the bench boss’s rookie season last year, scoring just eight goals in his first 43 games, he rebounded majorly in the second half of the year, notching 23 goals in his final 36 appearances.
The turning point came when Ovechkin received extended time off in January due to the NHL All-Star break, which coincided with the Capitals’ bye week. Ovechkin and his family jetted off to Dubai for their vacation, allowing the veteran forward time to recuperate and ride a camel.
Carbery also has prior credibility when it comes to Ovechkin predictions, being one of the lone voices to confidently say that Ovechkin could break Gretzky’s record this year. The Great Eight came into the season needing 42 goals to pass Gretzky and is just 16 away now.
Ovechkin and the Capitals have just one game remaining before they go their separate ways during the 4 Nations Face-Off break. According to the team’s schedule, all players and coaches will be off from February 10 through February 18. Washington had no personnel picked to represent their nations at the mid-season tournament.
Washington will go into the break as the NHL’s top team if they can nab two points against Utah on Sunday afternoon. The Capitals currently hold double-digit leads in the Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division.
“This will set us up to completely get away from the game of hockey, get away from the NHL, get away from everything that has to do with the pressures, the preparation,” Carbery said. “I really want our guys to utilize this break and just get away from it all for nine days, reset mentally and physically, and be able to come back as refreshed as possible and energized and ready for this final stretch.”
