Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Watch: Alex Ovechkin continues hot goal streak with late tally against Rangers

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Jan 4, 2025 3:26 PM ET

The crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. could be heard chanting "Ovie! Ovie! Ovie!" late in the third period Saturday, which could only mean one thing.

Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin notched yet another goal in the first half of the 20th season of his illustrious career.

The 39-year-old snuck a backhanded shot past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick to give Washington a 5-3 lead in what would become a 7-4 win, marking his 19th goal of the year and his fourth in his last five games played.

The #Gr8's out here playing like he's 23 again pic.twitter.com/PECBlCDVWQ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 4, 2025

Ovechkin has resumed the red-hot scoring pace he was on before suffering a fractured left fibula on Nov. 18, which forced him to miss 16 games over 40 days.

His career total is now up to 872 goals, leaving him just 23 short of passing Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for most all-time (894).

With Ovechkin scoring at a near goal-per-game pace right now — even having missed significant time with injury — it seems inevitable that he'll break the record before the end of this season.

Fans will be looking to glimpse a piece of history as "the Great Eight" chases "the Great One." With still another full year left on his contract in the nation's capital through 2025-26, Ovechkin looks poised to obliterate Gretzky's record.

Austen Bundy

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

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