Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 885th career goal in a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, moving nine games away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record. The goal came with 9:32 left in the third period, as Ovechkin capitalized on a loose puck and evened the score at 2-2.
Ovechkin expressed his excitement about reaching this milestone, saying it doesn’t feel any different now that he’s single digits away from tying Gretzky. He credited his teammates for their support, stating that they’re always excited whenever he scores.
The Capitals are leading the NHL with 88 points, tied with Winnipeg. Coach Spencer Carbery acknowledged the added pressure on the team as Ovechkin closes in on Gretzky’s record. “What do we need? Ten more?” Carbery asked, highlighting the gap separating Ovechkin from breaking the record.
Defenseman John Carlson praised Ovechkin for his continued impact and excitement level. Carlson has played with Ovechkin for 16 seasons, saying he’s always a threat to score on big stages.
Ovechkin now trails Gretzky by only nine goals after scoring his 46th goal against the Rangers this season. With the regular season nearing its end, Ovechkin is on pace to break Gretzky’s record.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/44129484/capitals-alex-ovechkin-nets-885th-goal-now-9-gretzky