Alexander Ovechkin, the captain of the Washington Capitals and a Russian forward, has set a new NHL record for the most shots in league history during an ongoing career marked by prolific scoring and durable execution.
In a regular-season contest against the Ottawa Senators that finished 3-2 in overtime, Ovechkin did not find the back of the net, but he launched six shots on goal. With these attempts, he increased his career shot total to 6211, surpassing the previous record held by Ray Bourque, who had 6209 shots in his NHL tenure.
Earlier reports described a standout performance by a Russian forward in that matchup, noting first-star recognition for the Ottawa contest and highlighting Ovechkin’s two points along with two assists to teammates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Sonny Milano, who converted the assists into goals.
Ovechkin’s achievement places him among the all-time elite in NHL history, drawing comparisons to legendary figures. Wayne Gretzky leads the era with 894 goals, a benchmark often cited in discussions of the greatest scorers. Gordie Howe sits just behind, continuing to be a central figure in the progression of the league’s scoring records.
Earlier this season, Ovechkin reached the 800-goal milestone, cementing his position as one of the game’s most enduring and productive players. This achievement positioned him as the third player, after Gretzky and Howe, to reach this historic goal total and underscored a career marked by longevity and high-volume shooting across many seasons.