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Ovechkin Injured After Taking League Lead in Goals

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Nov 18, 2024 11:53 PM ET

Alex Ovechkin was slow to get up on Monday night after colliding knee-to-knee with Jack McBain in the game between the Washington Capitals and The Utah Hockey Club. The Capitals won 6-2, but everyone will now wait to see what updates are offered on Ovechkin’s condition.

It appeared to be an accidental collision but Tom Wilson went after McBain when Ovechkin didn’t return to the game.

Despite the setback, Ovechkin continues to defy expectations and set the stage for a historic milestone. The hope is that this incident is not going to force Ovechkin to miss any future games as the 39-year-old scored his league-leading 15th goal of the 2024-25 season, bringing his career total to 868 and putting him just 27 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894.

Per @PR_NHL, Alex Ovechkin is the first player in NHL history age 39 or older to be the League’s first skater to 15 goals in a season. Prior to Ovechkin, the oldest player was Frank Mahovlich (33y, 304d on Nov. 10, 1971).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 19, 2024

If Ovechkin misses time, the chase for the goal-scoring record isn’t likely in jeopardy, but questions about if he can surpass Gretzky’s mark this season or in fewer games will surface. Gretzky reached 894 goals in 1,487 games, while Ovechkin, currently at 1,443 games, needs 29 more goals in the next 44 outings to break the record faster. The way he’s going, he would have done so with ease. If he misses time, it could throw off the current run he’s on, disrupting his tremendous momentum.

Ovechkin Was On a Mission Breaking the Record in Style

This season marks one of Ovechkin’s hottest starts, with his 15 goals through 18 games topping even his own historic pace from previous years. He’s also become the oldest player in NHL history to lead the league in goals at this point in the season, breaking a record previously held by Frank Mahovlich in 1971.

Assuming his injury is minor, at a blistering 0.83 goals per game pace, Ovechkin is projected to make history as early as January 30 in Ottawa.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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