Friday was a Gr8 night in NHL history as Alex Ovechkin scored his 893rd and 894th career goals to tie Wayne Gretzky atop the League’s all-time list. Ovechkin reached 894 goals in his 1,486th game, while Gretzky concluded his 20-season career with 894 in 1,487 contests.* Gretzky joined the League’s full traveling party and was in attendance at Capital One Arena when Ovechkin tied the longstanding record. Gretzky then joined Ovechkin during the team’s post-game festivities.
* Yesterday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes on The Gr8 Chase as well as wins by the Red Wings and Islanders, while Saturday’s page outlines clinching scenarios for the Lightning, Panthers and Kings who can all lock in postseason berths during the 13-game slate.
Ovechkin tallies twice to tie Gretzky for most goals in NHL history
Alex Ovechkin scored his 893rd and 894th career goals to tie Wayne Gretzky for the most in League history and move to the brink of becoming the NHL’s all-time leader, a distinction Gretzky held alone for more than 31 years. Ovechkin needs one goal over the Capitals’ final six games to complete The Gr8 Chase and achieve a feat once believed to be unreachable.
* Ovechkin opened the scoring just 3:52 into the game and tallied again during the third period, triggering teammates to clear the Washington bench and embrace him for the historic occasion. Ovechkin’s first goal extended his League record for most career 40-goal seasons (14), while the second stood as his 136th game winner which moved him past Jaromir Jagr (135) for the most in NHL history.
* #NHLStats will deliver a unique Stats Pack after each Ovechkin goal through the record-breaking No. 895. Click on the links below to read the two from Friday – some highlights from both documents include a list of goaltenders that both Ovechkin and Gretzky have scored against, Ovechkin recording his League-record 35th career four-game goal streak and needing exactly half the games as Gretzky to go from No. 800 to 894.
THE GR8 CHASE: Alex Ovechkin Ties Wayne Gretzky for NHL Goals Record
THE GR8 CHASE: Alex Ovechkin One Goal from Tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL Goals Record
Gretzky on hand to celebrate Ovechkin’s 893rd and 894th career goals
Wayne Gretzky was in attendance at Capital One Arena on Friday and celebrated Alex Ovechkin’s historic night alongside NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as well as Capitals chairman Ted Leonsis. Gretzky is expected to be on hand at each of Washington’s games until Ovechkin breaks the record.
* Gretzky spoke to Al Koken after Ovechkin scored his 894th career goal and posed for a photo in the Capitals’ locker room with Ovechkin, who was given the NHL record-tying puck by head coach Spencer Carbery. Gretzky then joined Ovechkin during a post-game news conference at Capital One Arena.
QUICK CLICKS
* Wayne Gretzky joins Capitals locker room celebration after Alex Ovechkin ties goals record
* Wayne Gretzky ‘so proud’ to see Alex Ovechkin tie him for NHL goals record in person
* Blackhawks line up to congratulate Alex Ovechkin on record-tying goal
* Capitals serve up special No. 8 pretzel as Alex Ovechkin chases Wayne Gretzky
* Young Capitals fan battling bone cancer meets Ovechkin, tours arena
FULL SATURDAY SLATE INCLUDES 12 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS ACTION
A jam-packed 13-game slate filled with teams in a playoff position or still hunting for a spot will be contested across a 12-hour span on Saturday including a doubleheader on ABC and ESPN+ as well as a four-game Hockey Night in Canada slate.
* The two teams currently holding a Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference will be in action on Saturday with the Senators (WC1; 40-29-6, 86 points) hosting the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers in a matinee contest and the Canadiens (WC2; 36-30-9, 81 points) hosting the Flyers on Hockey Night in Canada. The two closest teams outside the playoff line chasing them down will also be featured on national broadcasts with the Rangers (36-32-7, 79 points) visiting the Devils (ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS) and the Blue Jackets (34-31-9, 77 points) visiting the Atlantic Division-leading Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada.
* The Blues, who hold the Western Conference’s first Wild Card position and have won 11 consecutive games, can set a new franchise record for longest winning streak should they beat the division rival Avalanche. A 12-game win streak would also be the longest by any team this season. Another streaking team in the Central Division includes the Stars (50-21-4, 104 points), who have won seven straight and sit four points back of the Jets (52-20-4, 108 points) for first in the Western Conference standings – Dallas enters play Saturday with a game in hand.
* The two leaders in the Art Ross Trophy race will also be in action Saturday, with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (31-83—114 in 77 GP) holding a slight edge over Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (33-78—111 in 71 GP) entering play. MacKinnon is looking to win his first Art Ross Trophy and become just the second Avalanche player to do so (Peter Forsberg in 2002-03), while Kucherov is aiming to become the 10th player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy three or more times – Connor McDavid (5x) is the only active player on that list.
NHL PODCASTS WEEKLY ROUNDUP
* 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (April 4): Behind the NHL Schedule with Steve Hatze Petros + Hockey Talk with Adnan Virk
* NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers (April 3): Ryan Dempster and Cory Schneider bring the heat: Makar will be the GOAT, showing Kucherov some love and our Val Kilmer tribute.
* NHL Fantasy on Ice (April 3): Ovi nearing goal record; potential playoff upsets
* NHL @TheRink (April 2): Tom Gulitti joins: Ovechkin nears goal record, NHL Playoffs ramp up, Montreal Canadiens
* 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (April 2): Inside the Penguins’ Season with Kyle Dubas + NHL Playoff Talk
* La Tasse de Café LNH (April 2): La magie de Suzuki et Hutson opère à Montréal
* Energy Line with Nate and JSB (April 1): Ovechkin inching closer, Sid’s greatness and Nate on his NHL journey, recovery, dating life
* Never Offside with Julie and Cat (April 1): Sarah Gudbranson joins; Dr. G’s journey, Nap etiquette, Cat’s AI “family” tree
* NHL Fantasy on Ice (March 31): GR8 CHASE predictions; fantasy semifinals pickups
* NHL Forček (March 31): FORČEK, 7. díl: David Rittich a jeho kouč Adam Petřík
* 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (March 31): Oilers vs. Golden Knights: Breaking Down a Growing Rivalry With Bob Stauffer & Gary Lawless
