Alex Ovechkin sits 20 goals from passing Gretzky after latest tally

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin. Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Watch: Alex Ovechkin sits 20 goals from passing Wayne Gretzky after latest tally vs. Kraken

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Jan 24, 2025 1:03 AM ET

Alexander Ovechkin's chase for Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record is now down to the final 20 tallies.

The Washington Capitals captain potted an empty-net goal to shore up his team's 3-0 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.

With his 22nd score of the year, his career total was raised to 875. He is still well on track to pass Gretzky (894) by the end of the season.

Alex Ovechkin scores his 875th career goal, now 20 shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky's record pic.twitter.com/VDDNEGI3lP
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 24, 2025

"The Gr8 Chase," as it's being called, will soon be entering its final countdown in the coming weeks as fans eagerly anticipate the history making moment.

Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told Monumental Sports Network in December that they both plan on traveling with the team as Ovechkin approaches the record.

"I think when we get down to five, certainly no less than four, I’ve got to start following him around, and The Great One is going to be doing that as well," Bettman said.

Fans of "the Great Eight" know well that when he approaches a career milestone, he tends to pick up his pace and blow past it. He'll be must-see TV over the final few months of the season.

Austen Bundy

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

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