The Los Angeles Kings hosted the Washington Capitals in a regular season NHL game that drew eyes from fans on both coasts. Alexander Ovechkin, captain for Washington, was on the ice from the opening minutes, making an immediate impact for his team.
That contest marked the 1366th appearance for the Russian scorer in the NHL regular season. With that milestone, Ovechkin climbed into the 50th spot on the all time list, surpassing Eric Staal who has played 1365 games and, at the moment, remains unsigned by any club. Ahead of him sits Teppo Numminen at 49th with 1372 career games. The record for most NHL games belongs to Patrick Marleau, who reached 1779.
Around this time in the current season, Ovechkin had seen action in 19 games, compiling five goals and seven assists. He had gone without a goal in the previous four outings, a stretch that reflected the ups and downs typical for a long veteran who continually contributes in multiple ways beyond scoring.
In the broader context of the league, the gap between Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky in all time goal totals stood at a substantial margin, while Gordie Howe remained in third place with 801 NHL goals. The conversation around scoring milestones underscores how one player’s longevity and consistency can intersect with the sport’s greatest benchmarks.
Earlier in the season, a separate highlight featured Artemi Panarin’s decisive contribution as the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings, underscoring the depth of talent across the league. Panarin’s performance, like Ovechkin’s, is a reminder of how a single shift or period can shift momentum and shape a game’s outcome.