Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring his 1,000th career goal in regular season and playoffs combined against the Colorado Avalanche at Capital One Arena. Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky in another exclusive club in loss to Avalanche

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Mar 22, 2026 5:09 PM ET

Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky once again has to make room for Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin.

Late in the third period of a 3-2 home overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, Ovechkin netted his 1,000th career goal (including playoffs). Why did Colorado leave him wide open, knowing he had scored 999 entering Sunday's game? Regardless, Ovechkin's latest milestone further cements him as one of the few players who belong in the same tier as Gretzky.

The Capitals standout and the former Edmonton Oilers star (1,016) are the only players to score 1,000 career goals in NHL history. Ovechkin has 923 goals in 1,562 regular-season games and 77 in 161 postseason games. Gretzky, meanwhile, had 894 in 1,487 regular-season games and 122 in 208 playoff contests.

Ovechkin continuing to add to that total this season is unlikely. With 11 regular-season games remaining for Washington, the Capitals (35-27-9, 79 points) are sixth in the Metropolitan Division and trail the Detroit Red Wings (38-24-8, 84 points) by five points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Still, he doesn't need a second Stanley Cup win to bolster his legacy.

Scored 999 times before this and teams are still out here leaving him all alone from his office #ALLCAPS | @aerovironment pic.twitter.com/pQjNmvhKAN
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 22, 2026

Alex Ovechkin has joined Wayne Gretzky as the second player in NHL history to score 1,000 career goals in the regular-season and playoffs combined. pic.twitter.com/i7uB4YGh8Y
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) March 22, 2026

Latest milestone further proves Alex Ovechkin is one of few players who can come close to Wayne Gretzky

Four-time Stanley Cup winner Gretzky — nicknamed the "Great One" — remains the greatest player ever. He holds the record for most Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) wins (nine) and many others.

Ovechkin, however, has made a strong case as the second-best player behind Gretzky. He has won three Hart Trophies in 21 seasons with Washington and captured an NHL-record nine Maurice Richard Trophies (league's leading scorer).

Even more impressive is Ovechkin's longevity. The 40-year-old owns the record for most 40-plus-goal seasons in league history (14), ahead of Gretzky (12). Over the past four seasons, he has logged 40 or more goals twice. After Sunday's game, he had 26 goals in 71 games this season.

This won't be the last time Gretzky will need to make space for Ovechkin. He'll certainly join him in the Hall of Fame after he retires.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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