Interesting Statistics Behind Ovechkin’s Chase of Gretzky’s Record
Against the Blackhawks, Alex Ovechkin notched his 894th goal. This ties Wayne Gretzky’s record of most regular season NHL goals in a career. Ovechkin’s chase is at the forefront of the NHL world. Ovechkin and Gretzky are considered two of the NHL’s best players ever by many. Given this, when Ovechkin breaks Gretzky’s record, it will be seen as a “passing of the torch” moment. However, to examine this run that most deemed impossible, we must look at the key numbers and statistics behind this history being made.
Striking Similarities Between Ovechkin and Gretzky
Ovechkin and Gretzky are both in their 20th NHL season. While Gretzky has reached 894 goals in 1,487 games, Ovechkin has done so in 1,486 games. Both players have exactly nine seasons where they have scored at least 50 goals. Ovechkin also has 14 seasons of at least 40 goals, with Gretzky having 13 seasons. In addition, both players have averaged a little over 20 minutes of ice time per game in their careers. It is important to note that Gretzky only played two seasons where ice time was a recorded metric. Both players started their careers relatively young with Gretzky starting his NHL career at 19 and Ovechkin starting his NHL career at 20.
Other Records Ovechkin and Gretzky Hold
Along with the record of most regular season NHL goals in a career, the two legends hold a plethora of other records. Ovechkin, for example, has the most game-winning goals in an NHL career at 136. He broke this record, previously held by Jaromir Jagr with 135, on April 4, 2025, against the Chicago Blackhawks. This is the same game, and the same goal, where Alex tied Wayne Gretzky’s famous goal record. Gretzky only has 91 game-winning goals, good for 23rd most game-winning goals in the NHL. Gretzky has the record for most evenhanded goals and shorthanded goals, with 617 goals and 73 goals respectively. Ovechkin holds the record for most power-play goals at 324, while Gretzky has the record for most assists with 1,963.
When Ovechkin Breaks The Record
Ovechkin had a chance to break the record on that April 4th game on an empty net, which would’ve made him have a hat trick to reach 895 goals. However, Ovechkin refused to let the record-breaking goal be on an empty net. Many suspect his 895th goal will be during the Capitals’s next game, which is on the road against the New York Islanders. When Ovechkin breaks the record, the NHL plans to stop the game and host a seven to 10-minute ceremony featuring commissioner Gary Bettman, Ovechkin's family, Gretzky, and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis. There will be speeches and a video tribute. The same treatment was given to Gretzky 31 years ago when he broke Gordie Howe's record, with Howe on hand. Bettman gave Gretzky a book with game sheets as a gift.
Ticket prices for this game against the Islanders have now soared to upwards of $700 due to the circumstances. I had previously entertained the possibility of goal 895 coming at this very game against the Islanders in this article giving three possibilities of when the record would be broken. I had predicted that goal 895 could come April 12th to the Columbus Blue Jackets, next season, nine games from the writing of that article which was the April 4th game to the Blackhawks, or 10 games from the writing of that article which is the upcoming April 6th game to the Islanders. Regardless, the “Gr8 Chase” as social media has called it, is bound to be historic and shine the spotlight of the greater sports world onto the ice rink.
