The Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin stepped onto the ice for his 1,392nd NHL game, returning to the rink for a regular-season clash against the Montreal Canadiens. The game finished with a 5-2 victory for Montreal, and Ovechkin managed to notch a goal in the loss, underscoring his ongoing drive to contribute despite the team’s setback.
With the appearance, the Russian superstar moved past a storied Canadian legend. Ovechkin surpassed Doug Mons, who shares the 43rd spot on the all-time games list. Looking ahead, the next milestone targets Roman Hamrlik, a Czech defenseman who has logged 1,395 NHL appearances, keeping the race to the top expressive and close for a player who has spent years rewriting longevity benchmarks.
During this season, Ovechkin appeared in 45 regular-season games, finishing with 10 goals and 22 assists. He sat out several January matches due to injuries, a reminder that even enduring stars face physical hurdles while chasing milestones and maintaining peak performance across a demanding schedule.
Beyond the team results, Ovechkin remains focused on the legendary scoring record held by Wayne Gretzky. With 832 goals on the board this season, his career total stands at 892?—no, 832 goals in this stretch, while Gretzky amassed 894 in his NHL tenure. That places Ovechkin at a six-goal gap to tie and a 62-goal gap to surpass the all-time benchmark, driving ongoing scrutiny and ambition from fans and analysts alike as the pursuit continues.
A former Capitals player weighed in on Ovechkin’s situation, offering clarity on the factors influencing his current form and the team’s strategy going forward. The discussion highlighted how veteran leadership and the evolving roster around him shape both his opportunities on the ice and the broader narrative surrounding his pursuit of hockey’s greatest records.