Alex Ovechkin Scores First Goal, 40 Away from Gretzky Record

Alex Ovechkin finally scored his first goal of the 2024-25 season for the Washington Capitals during their match against the New Jersey Devils.

After four games, Ovechkin managed to redirect a puck into the net, giving Washington a 3-1 lead late in the first period on Saturday. This goal marked his 854th career score, bringing him just 40 goals shy of tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894. Known as “The Great Eight,” Ovechkin had notched 31 goals in 2023 despite a slow start, setting up an exciting chase this year with “The Great One.”

Although he hadn’t scored until now, Ovechkin was still contributing to his team with three assists in the previous games. One assist was particularly special—it was his 700th career assist, making him only the sixth player ever to achieve at least 700 goals and assists. His goal on Saturday ignited Washington’s offense, leading them to score five times in just two periods—their highest tally this season. The Capitals eventually won in overtime against a tough New Jersey squad with a final score of 6-5, marking their third consecutive victory after losing their opener to these same Devils.

Fans’ Thoughts:

Fans might think it’s thrilling to watch Ovechkin chase such an incredible record while still playing at such a high level.

In an unexpected twist of fate or fortune cookies predicting hockey outcomes—who knows?—the Capitals have been on fire since that initial stumble against New Jersey last week. The young Devils put up quite a fight but couldn’t hold off Washington’s relentless attack this time around.

As we wrap things up here: Do you think Ovechkin will catch Gretzky this season?

Alex Thompson
Alex Thompson
Alex Thompson is a Senior Writer for HockeyMonitor. With a background in Sports Media, Alex joined the team in 2022. He focuses on providing the latest hockey news, game scores, and fresh NHL trade rumors.

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