The Russian national team veteran and former Zenit St. Petersburg forward Alexander Kerzhakov revealed that Canadian legend Wayne Gretzky was once pursuing Russian superstar and Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin to chase Gretzky’s sniping record. His words illuminate the spotlight on this ongoing chase, as noted by Championship.com.
“Every hockey fan in Russia hopes to witness the day when Ovechkin surpasses Gretzky’s sniper tally. I watch this closely: I check Washington’s results to see if Ovechkin has scored. When that happens, it brings a sense of satisfaction,” Kerzhakov stated.
Ovechkin stands 46 goals behind Gretzky on the NHL’s all-time top sniper list. He has already tallied 848 career goals, while Gretzky reached 894 in his career.
On the night of March 31, the Washington Capitals fell to the Boston Bruins in a penalty shootout during an NHL regular season game. Ovechkin did not register a point in the game and did not participate in the subsequent shootout.
Earlier, on March 27, the Russian star enjoyed a break in his five-game goal streak, notching eight goals during that span. Ovechkin played in 69 regular season games this season, contributing 26 goals and 32 assists across those contests.
After 73 games, Washington sits seventh in the NHL’s Eastern Conference with 82 points. The Capitals’ next challenge will be a road matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.
Former world champion noted that Ovechkin is the key player who can help push him toward Gretzky’s record. This dynamic continues to energize Capitals fans and observers across North America as the pursuit is tracked game by game.