Alex Ovechkin may break Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal record this season
Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin is so close to the NHL goal record that he may break that record this year, even coming off an injury.
Sports Seriously
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin can make history Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
If Ovechkin gets a hat trick, he will pass Wayne Gretzky (894) for most goals in NHL history. The Capitals captain has scored 39 goals this season, including four in his last five games, to reach 892 in his 20th season.
Ovechkin has two hat tricks this season and 32 in his career. He has one previous hat trick against the Blackhawks, and it happened to be in a milestone game. He scored three times in a game at Chicago on Dec. 13, 2022 to become only the third NHL player (Gretzky, Gordie Howe) with 800 goals.
USA TODAY will be providing live updates from Friday’s Blackhawks-Capitals game. Follow along:
Frank Nazar in penalty box for slashing. Ovechkin has 323 power-play goals.
Tie game doesn’t last long. Philipp Kurashev drives home a rebound 10 seconds after Washington’s goal. Blackhawks 3, Capitals 2
Connor McMichael makes a great move and his shot goes behind Spencer Knight. Martin Fehervary knocks it home. Capitals 2, Blackhawks 2
The Capitals kill off the remaining 21 seconds of the Chicago power play, but Frank Nazar scores 10 seconds later. Blackhawks 2, Capitals 1
Tied 1-1. Blackhawks have short power play.
Alex Ovechkin, talking to Monumental Sports Network, praised the work of John Carlson and Dylan Strome in setting up his goal. “It was a good flat pass (from Strome) and I got lucky. It hit the post and went in.”
He says he feels the buzz in the building: “Wayne’s here, so it’s a special moment.”
Alex Ovechkin has one goal on one shot. He played 5:03 in the first period.
In addition to the Alex Ovechkin watch, the Capitals are trying to end a slide of four losses in five games. They’re pinned early in their zone, but Ovechkin scores his 40th goal of the season and 893rd of his career. Tyler Bertuzzi ties it about 10 minutes later. The Capitals will be short-handed for 21 seconds at the start of the second period.
Ryan Leonard is called for high-sticking. He and the Capitals can’t believe the call. It’s the former Boston College star’s first penalty in his third NHL game.
Tyler Bertuzzi scores at 13:52 and it’s a tie game. Capitals 1, Blackhawks 1
The Great One is sitting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. There will be a brief ceremony whenever Alex Ovechkin breaks the record. He’s acknowledged by the Capitals and receives cheers from the crowd.
He’s stationed in the right faceoff circle. Dylan Strome feeds Ovechkin for a goal at 3:52. That’s 14 40-goal seasons for Ovechkin, adding to his record. He needs two goals to pass Wayne Gretzky and he passes Gretzky for most first-period goals (242).
Alex Ovechkin starts with Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson. He had been with Wilson and Pierre-Luc Dubois the past two games.
Alex Ovechkin needs one goal for 40 this season, two to tie Wayne Gretzky’s record and three to break the record.
When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game? Capitals vs. Blackhawks start time
The Washington Capitals play the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. ET Friday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Where to watch Capitals vs. Blackhawks game
The Capitals vs. Blackhawks game is being aired on NHL Network.
How to stream Capitals vs. Blackhawks game
Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network. Fubo is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream Capitals vs. Blackhawks on Fubo (free trial)
Capitals vs. Blackhawks date, start time, where to watch
- Game Day: Friday, April 4, 2025
- Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
- TV Channel: NHL Network
- Live Stream: Fubo | Sling TV | ESPN+
Devante Smith-Pelley, Brooks Orpik, Braden Holtby, T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom are honored. The five are out there for the ceremonial puck drop between Alex Ovechkin and Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno.
Goalie Spencer Knight is expected to start in net for Chicago. He’s one of the record 182 goalies that Ovechkin has scored on. He has given up two Ovechkin goals.
The Capitals won’t have goalie Logan Thompson for Friday’s game and Charlie Lindgren will start. Thompson suffered an upper-body injury in Wednesday’s game and didn’t come out for the second period.
“He’s definitely going to miss a couple games and then we’ll go from there,” coach Spencer Carbery told reporters.
Wayne Gretzky is expected to follow the Capitals around so he can there for when Ovechkin breaks the record. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman already was at a Capitals game this week.
Games: Gretzky 1,487 | Ovechkin 1,485
Goals: Gretzky 894 | Ovechkin 892
Assists: Gretzky 1,963 | Ovechkin 724
Points: Gretzky 2,857 | Ovechkin 1,616
Ovechkin has 15 goals in 25 career regular-season games against the Blackhawks. He missed the teams’ earlier meeting this season because of a fractured left fibula.
