Coaching Alex Ovechkin for three seasons has made his relentless chase for Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record seem quite normal for Peter Laviolette. Before his New York Rangers were set to compete against Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, Laviolette commented, “Not a crazy thing at all. I don’t see him slowing down.” Indeed, Ovechkin is far from slowing down.
In the recent matchup, Ovechkin scored his 872nd career goal in a thrilling 7-4 victory, bringing him within 23 goals of surpassing Gretzky’s historic mark of 894, which had previously seemed almost impossible to reach. Since returning from a broken leg that sidelined him for 16 games, Ovechkin has netted four goals in five games, showcasing his incredible resilience.
Teammate Connor McMichael expressed his admiration, stating, “It’s incredible. Ever since I was a kid, I grew up watching him do all these amazing things, and now to have a front-row seat to him doing something really special has been awesome.” McMichael emphasized how Ovechkin’s performances have continuously contributed to the team’s victories.
As Ovechkin approaches the significant milestone of scoring at least 20 goals in each of his 20 seasons, his recovery from injury appears to have ignited his drive even further. The 39-year-old forward noted, “To be honest with you, I feel every game better — touches, skating-wise. I’ll take it.”
Dylan Strome, who has provided assists for 14 out of Ovechkin’s 19 goals this season, remarked, “It just feels like he gets on these runs.” These scoring streaks keep Ovechkin on track to potentially pass Gretzky within the upcoming spring season. Capitals winger Andrew Mangiapane added, “Obviously, he’s an all-time great. Just seeing his everyday kind of lifestyle and seeing him on the ice, and every time he scores, it’s a great kind of feeling. I think it pumps up everyone on our bench.”
Laviolette, who previously coached the Capitals from 2021 to 2023, heaped praise on Ovechkin’s incredible shooting ability, calling it the best in the world. However, he emphasized the forward’s remarkable work ethic as the key factor driving his ongoing success. “He’s a guy that just doesn’t stop,” Laviolette pointed out. “He wants to get better. He’s going to play hurt. He’s going to play injured. He’s going to get out there and try and make a difference for his team.”
In sum, the spectacle of Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record, coupled with his dedication and talent, continues to keep fans and teammates engaged and inspired as the season unfolds.
