Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 885th career goal in the third period of the team’s 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers on Wednesday, and he is just 10 goals shy of passing Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 for the NHL record.
“Great job on the faceoff. Great battle. Puck came to me and I put it in,” Alex Ovechkin said, via ESPN.
Ovechkin has scored 32 goals in just 46 games so far this season and is on pace to break Gretzky’s record in early April, according to ESPN. After the win over the Rangers, the Capitals have 20 games left on the season. Ovechkin has that amount of time to score 10 goals.
The Capitals have been utilizing Ovechkin in empty net situations, which helps on top of the fact that he is having a great goal-scoring season. With the Capitals in great position in the Eastern Conference standings, they can afford for Ovechkin to aggressively pursue the record down the stretch. Despite approaching the record, Ovechkin said it does not feel any different for him.
“I tried to do my best and do my job,” Ovechkin said, via ESPN.
Ovechkin’s goal came at an important point in the game for the Capitals. It tied the game with the Rangers at two, and it provided the opportunity for Tom Wilson to score the overtime winner. Wilson spoke on how he and his teammates react when Ovechkin scores.
“I think our bench jumps through the roof whenever he finds the back of the net, which is fitting because he’s always the most excited guy on the ice when anybody else scores,” Wilson said, via ESPN. “Whenever he scores, obviously everybody in the hockey world is pretty excited right now.”
It will be interesting to see if Ovechkin can break Gretzky’s record before the regular season ends, or if he will have to wait until early next season to pass him.
Alex Ovechkin Supporting Pediatric Cancer Research During Chase of Goals Record
Awareness is a powerful weapon. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin’s newest initiative with the Capitals and the V Foundation for cancer research is to help spread awareness about pediatric cancer far and wide through a new program under the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer program called “THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer!”
Last night against the New York Rangers, Ovechkin moved one step closer to the all-time record with a third-period goal that tied the game at 2-2. It was career goal No. 885 for Washington’s star, who has 32 goals in 46 games this season. While all eyes are on Gretzky’s regular-season goal-scoring record, several other goal-scoring milestones are in reach for Washington’s captain before the end of the regular season.
Ovechkin Funds Pediatric Cancer Research in New Campaign
As part of the initiative, Ovechkin plans to donate a dollar amount equal to his career goal total “from now through the remainder of his career.” Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Capitals’ parent company, will match his donations. On the first night of the program’s existence, Wednesday’s goal against New York will see two charitable donations of $885, one from Ovechkin and the other from Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
According to the V Foundation’s website, “the donations will fund a childhood cancer research grant through the V Foundation in Ovechkin’s honor: the Alex Ovechkin GR8 Chase Pediatric Cancer Research Grant.” Hockey fans have been encouraged to donate on the campaign’s website if they would like to contribute to the fight against cancer.
“I’m proud to join the V Foundation and support their efforts to fund lifesaving cancer research,” said Ovechkin. “Throughout my NHL career, I have met many brave kids battling cancer, and I feel it’s important to do what I can to help save more lives from this horrible disease. I want to thank the V Foundation for all their hard work, and I look forward to using my platform and doing anything I can to help further the V Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer’s mission.” The V Foundation for Cancer Research raised almost $3 million in donations for cancer research during the 2023-24 season, the organization’s first season of a partnership with the NHL through Hockey Fights Cancer.
