Watch: Alex Ovechkin scores goal No. 871

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Watch: Alex Ovechkin rips power-play strike for goal No. 871 against Wild

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Jan 2, 2025 9:15 PM ET

If you started watching the Washington Capitals season on Thursday, there would be little to indicate captain Alex Ovechkin had missed 40 days and 16 games with a fractured left fibula.

The 39-year-old scored his third goal in four games since returning from his injury, ripping a power-play snapshot past Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.

Let's get Wild, O!!!!!#ALLCAPS | @BlueHalo pic.twitter.com/jQmoZm6Jbr
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 3, 2025

The tally was his 28th against Fleury, who spent 13 seasons with Washington's rival the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is the most he's scored in his career against a single goalie.

Minnesota is a team that hates see Ovechkin on the ice as he's now scored 20 times in 24 career games against the Wild — that's 0.83 goals-per-game, the best pace he owns against any franchise.

Ovechkin has now scored 18 goals this season, raising his career total to 871 and inching him closer to passing Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for most all-time (894).

It's practically become a matter of when and not if he will pass Gretzky. With just 24 more goals needed and still a whole year left on his contract in 2025-26, all signs point to Ovechkin demolishing the once-thought untouchable record.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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