Ovechkin Extends NHL Record, Keeps Capitals in Playoff Chase

Mar 28, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

When it comes to setting records in the NHL, one immediately thinks of guys like Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky. After all, Howe retired with 801 goals and 1,850 points in his career. Both numbers stood as NHL records until Gretzky’s torrid pace in the 1980s with the Oilers. While Gretzky’s numbers slowed in the twilight of his career, he finished with 894 goals and a staggering 2,857 points. The former was a record while the latter may remain unbroken. Jaromir Jagr is second all-time but is 936 points behind Gretzky.

Another force to be reckoned with is the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin. He has his own real estate in the NHL record books as he nears the end of his career. Ovechkin has 14 40-goal seasons and nine 50-goal campaigns to his credit. The former is a NHL record while he is tied with Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the most 50-goal seasons. On April 6, 2025, Ovechkin beat Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders for his 895th career goal to break Gretzky’s record.

This season, Ovechkin scored his 900th career regular season goal on November 5, 2025 against the Blues. On March 22, he scored his 1000th career goal, including playoffs, joining Gretzky as the only two players to reach that mark.

On Tuesday night, Ovechkin extended another one of his records. He scored twice, his 30th and 31st goals of the season, in a 6-4 win for the Capitals over the Flyers. That marked the 20th season of his career with at least 30 goals. That mark is three better than Hall of Famer Mike Gartner, who posted 17 30-goal seasons in his career. Ovechkin joined an elite group that includes Howe (twice), Teemu Selanne and Johnny Bucyk as the lone players to score at least 30 goals at age 40 or older.

Ovechkin has been a model of consistency in his career. He scored at least 30 goals in every season of his career barring the COVID-19 shortened campaign in 2020-21. Even in that season, Ovechkin scored 24 goals in 45 games, which would extrapolate to a 44-goal pace in a regular 82-game campaign. He enters Wednesday with 928 career goals and stands 10th all-time with 1,682 points. Ovechkin also owns NHL records with 331 power play goals and 141 game-winning markers.

For his individual success, the Capitals still have an uphill climb to make the postseason this year. Washington trails the Islanders by four points for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand. They are three points behind Columbus for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Washington has seven games remaining and their fortunes may well hinge on their 40-year-old captain.

Can Ovechkin turn back the clock and deliver a vintage performance in the stretch run to get Washington into the postseason? We’ll see but one thing is clear: Ovechkin isn’t coasting as the season winds down.

Ovechkin Extends NHL Record, Keeps Capitals in Playoff Chase

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