BOSTON — Alex Ovechkin is on the brink of history. The star forward of the Washington Capitals reached goal number 891 in his career during Tuesday night’s game, bringing him within three goals of matching Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record and four away from becoming the league’s leading scorer ever.
Ovechkin had a chance to close the gap further in the Capitals’ 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins; however, his missed shot on an empty net in the dying moments of the game left him just short. “It’s getting close,” remarked Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. “You can feel it. You can definitely feel it.” He noted the missed opportunity with a smile, acknowledging how close Ovechkin is to the milestone.
An NHL MVP three times over, Ovechkin has been the league’s top goal-scorer on nine occasions. Despite missing six weeks due to a broken left leg earlier in the season, he has been on a hot streak, finding the net 12 times in his last 18 games. With 38 goals in his 58 appearances this season, he is on pace to potentially achieve the record during the Capitals’ penultimate game of the regular season against the New York Islanders on April 15.
Reflecting on Ovechkin’s comeback, goalie Charlie Lindgren said, “I go back to when he was injured and out for a while. When that happened, everyone was kind of thinking to themselves whether or not it was going to be possible.” He emphasized Ovechkin’s resilience, saying, “But anything’s possible with Alex Ovechkin. We’ve seen that this far. We’ve got eight games to go, and the best thing about it is it doesn’t feel like there’s any pressure at all. And the team’s enjoying it.”
The game saw Washington trailing 1-0 near the end of the first period before John Carlson’s pass set up Dylan Strome for an assist, which Ovechkin finished off for his record-setting 322nd power-play goal. Ovechkin celebrated with his arms raised, ensuring it was a team victory as he downplayed his achievement afterward, saying, “A goal is a goal. It was a great play by Stromer and Carly.”
The Boston crowd, filled with fans donning Ovechkin jerseys, delivered a mixed response, partly cheering the rival Capitals. The Bruins, enduring their ninth consecutive loss, already face the likely prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, adding a historic context to the audience’s reaction.
Ovechkin almost added another goal to his tally in the final minute when he attempted a shot near the Bruins’ blue line but missed the net. Nevertheless, with 38 goals this season, he is well-positioned to achieve a 40-goal season for the 14th time in his career, further expanding his record.
Newly-debuted Capitals forward Ryan Leonard expressed his amazement at playing alongside such an iconic player. “He’s one of a kind, and it’s fun to see him get some goals, for sure,” Leonard shared. Recalling his journey from playing college hockey for Boston College just days earlier to debuting in the NHL, Leonard remarked, “If you had told me this a couple of years ago, it just wouldn’t be real. Honestly, I really don’t know what to say to that. It’s just really cool and just trying to embrace the moment.”