Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Capital One Arena. Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Watch: Alex Ovechkin scores goal No. 888 vs. Flyers

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 9:59 PM ET

Everything is coming up crazy eights in the nation's capital.

Alexander Ovechkin scored career goal No. 888 on Thursday and is now just seven from passing Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky's all-time record (894).

The Washington Capitals captain's first-period strike gave the team a 1-0 lead against the Philadelphia Flyers, his 52nd career tally against the Metropolitan Division rivals ( second-most all-time).

The man simply loves scoring against Philly pic.twitter.com/HB6Slkpuea
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 20, 2025

Ovechkin has scored 35 goals in 53 games this season — with his latest setting its own record. That's impressive considering he missed 16 contests with a broken leg suffered on Nov. 18.

The consistency of No. 8 pic.twitter.com/Xxsimy2i5h
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 21, 2025

The chase for Gretzky seems to have enhanced the 39-year-old's scoring pace as well. Ovechkin's tally on Thursday was his 13th in his last 19 games played (0.68 goals-per-game).

With 13 games remaining on Washington's schedule, he's still on pace to claim the NHL's all-time goals record before the end of the regular season.

Austen Bundy

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

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