Alex Ovechkin is now just six goals away from breaking what many thought was an unbreakable record in hockey.
The Washington Capitals star netted his 889th career goal Tuesday night in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Jets, putting him within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 894.
The chase is getting real. According to SportsLine, Ovechkin has about a 73% chance of breaking the record this season.
The 39-year-old Russian sniper has been heating up at just the right time, scoring three goals in his last five games. He’s put up six goals in March alone.
“Every time he touches the puck now, the crowd holds its breath,” says Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. “You can feel the anticipation building.”
The math suggests Ovechkin will likely make history between April 14-17. His best shot? A nearly 15% chance of breaking the record against Columbus on April 12.
He’s having another stellar season with 36 goals and 24 assists. Pretty remarkable for a player who’s been in the league since 2005.
What makes this even more interesting is that the Capitals are fighting for playoff position. They’re chasing the top seed in the East, which means Ovechkin will be going all-out in these final weeks.
He’s got a real shot at hitting 40 goals this year – which would be his third time doing it in the last four seasons. That’s incredible for any player, let alone one pushing 40 years old.
The next three weeks could be historic. Hockey fans everywhere are watching to see if “The Great Eight” can catch “The Great One.”
The Capitals have nine games left. Six goals to go.
The countdown is on.
