Alex Ovechkin Ties Wayne Gretzky's All-Time NHL Goal Scoring Record

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Alex Ovechkin is now even with "The Great One."
Ovechkin, who entered Friday night with 892 career goals, scored twice in the Washington Capitals' 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena, tying Wayne Gretzky for the all-time NHL record with 894 goals.
Ovechkin now is one goal away from claiming hockey's coveted title as the NHL's greatest goal scorer to ever lace up skates.
The 39-year-old reached the milestone at nearly an identical pace as Gretzky, too. Gretzky scored 894 goals over 1,487 games played, while Ovechkin reached the mark in his 1,486th career contest.
Over 20 NHL seasons—all with the Capitals—Ovechkin has tallied 894 goals, 724 assists and 1,618 points in 1,486 games. He is a 12-time All-Star, a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay award winner, a nine-time Maurice Richard Trophy honoree, and the 2017–18 Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
Most goals in NHL history
RANK | PLAYER | YEARS | GAMES | GOALS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
t-1 | Wayne Gretzky | 1978 to '99 | 1,487 | 894 |
t-1 | Alex Ovechkin | 2005 to present | 1,486 | 894 |
3 | Gordie Howe | 1947 to '80 | 1,767 | 801 |
4 | Jaromir Jagr | 1990 to 2018 | 1,733 | 766 |
5 | Brett Hull | 1986 to 2006 | 1,269 | 741 |
6 | Marcel Dionne | 1971 to '89 | 1,348 | 731 |
7 | Phil Esposito | 1963 to '81 | 1,282 | 717 |
8 | Mike Gartner | 1978 to '98 | 1,432 | 708 |
9 | Mark Messier | 1978 to 2004 | 1,756 | 694 |
10 | Steve Yzerman | 1983 to 2006 | 1,514 | 692 |
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Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.
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