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USA Today
05-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky's NHL scoring record. See his path to 894
Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's career goal leader on Friday night – a mark that once seemed insurmountable and earned Gretzky the nickname The Great One. The Great Eight, as the Washington Capital is sometimes called, began the season 41 goals behind Gretzky's 894. But, perhaps, numbers fall short of conveying how dominant the two players' careers have been. Ovechkin scored his 40th and 41st of the year on April 4. From goals to points, our series of charts below — based on NHL and Hockey Reference data — show the gulf that Gretzky and Ovechkin have created between themselves and their contemporaries as they solidified their positions as two of the league's greats. Three NHL players scored more than 800 goals in their careers It's interesting to note in the chart below, how one player has stood out from others of their generations since the 1950s when Maurice Richard became the NHL's first 400-goal scorer — and later first 500-goal scorer. A couple decades later Gordie Howe finished his 33-year career with 801 goals. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. So how did Gretzky and Ovechkin get there? Combine consistent all-star play with health and longevity, and their career milestones became more plausible. Gretzky lost a large portion of his 1992-93 season to a back injury, while Ovechkin lost 16 games this year to a broken leg. Otherwise, both stayed on the ice during the prime of their careers. How many goals does Ovechkin have in his career Both Ovechkin and Gretzky averaged about 49 goals per season, but some might say Ovechkin is still in the prime of his career, considering the relatively consistent trajectory of his scoring. So who is better, Gretzky or Ovechkin? Here are a few more points to help you decide. Whether it's Jordan vs. LeBron or Brady vs. Mahomes, comparisons between great players of different eras can often be a fool's errand. That said, a couple key differences in the eras: Goalies' gear covers more of the goal today Only a few years separate Ovechkin and Gretzky, but like any other sport, hockey equipment evolved during these four-plus decades. Consider how different goalies' pads and mitts were, below, during Gretzky's and Ovechkin's first seasons. To be fair, goalies wore more modern-day uniforms in Gretzky's final seasons, and two years before Ovechkin entered the NHL, the length of goalie pads was limited to 38 inches. NHL scoring at its highest levels in Gretzky era Some will argue that Ovechkin is a greater goal scorer because scoring has become more challenging. Gretzky's early years were played when the NHL averaged the highest average points per game. Of 25 players who scored 65 goals or more in a season, 19 were in Gretzky's era. That includes four seasons where Gretzky scored 71 or more. Ovechkin tallied 65 once. Gretzky has conceded that he may soon lose his scoring title in the coming months. "It's just a matter of time, whether it's late this year, early next year, whenever," Gretzky said about his record this past fall, according to the NHL. "I mean, he's a great player. He's a great goal scorer." But the measure of a great hockey player isn't only how many goals they rack up. Consider how Ovechkin compares to his contemporaries on career points – goals and assists added together. How many career points has Ovechkin earned In his 20 years in the NHL, Gretzky's play contributed to more goals for his teams than any player by far. In addition to leading the league in goals five times, he led the NHL in assists 16 times, leading to a career points record that may never be eclipsed. The Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby joined the NHL in the 2005-06 season with Ovechkin. Crosby has assisted on nearly 50% more goals than Ovechkin has, putting him dozens of points ahead. Below, the top 50 players in career points. Only four have played this season: How old is Alex Ovechkin and other milestones Should Ovechkin run out of regular-season games this year, he'll turn 40 in September with one more year on his current Capitals' contract. In addition to the career goal record, he'll have more chances to pile up career statistics. A couple of them: ◾ Points: Ovechkin overtook Phil Esposito's career points mark of 1,590 in early February, putting him 11th (1,617) in the category. Joe Sakic, 10th in points at 1,641, could be within reach next season. ◾ Goalies scored on: Ovechkin already leads in this category with 181 goalies in his 20 years. Less than 9% of those who have played in the league have even scored 180 or more goals. How many goals does Ovechkin have this year How many empty net goals has Ovechkin made After returning from his broken leg in late December, Ovechkin scored his 17th goal of the season in his first game back, collecting his 62nd empty-net goal of his career. He scored his 65th empty-netter March 15. Empty-net goals are a perk of playing for one of the top teams in the NHL for several years, and Ovechkin has taken advantage of empty nets more often than any player in league history, according to Statmuse. He topped Gretzky's 56 empty netters last season when he tallied three. Rounding the top five of empty-net goal scorers, according to Statmuse: Marian Hossa, 40, Brad Marchand, 38, and Sidney Crosby, 37.
USA Today
05-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky's NHL scoring record
Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky's NHL scoring record Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's career goal leader on Friday night – a mark that once seemed unsurmountable and earned Gretzky the nickname The Great One. The Great Eight, as the Washington Capital is sometimes called, began the season 41 goals behind Gretzky's 894. But, perhaps, numbers fall short of conveying how dominant the two players' careers have been. Ovechkin scored his 40th and 41st of the year on April 4. From goals to points, our series of charts below — based on NHL and Hockey Reference data — show the gulf that Gretzky and Ovechkin have created between themselves and their contemporaries as they solidified their positions as two of the league's greats. Ovechkin tracker: How many goals does Alex Ovechkin need to pass Wayne Gretzky? Tracking all his stats Three NHL players scored more than 800 goals in their careers It's interesting to note in the chart below, how one player has stood out from others of their generations since the 1950s when Maurice Richard became the NHL's first 400-goal scorer — and later first 500-goal scorer. A couple decades later Gordie Howe finished his 33-year career with 801 goals. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. So how did Gretzky and Ovechkin get there? Combine consistent all-star play with health and longevity, and their career milestones became more plausible. Gretzky lost a large portion of his 1992-93 season to a back injury, while Ovechkin lost 16 games this year to a broken leg. Otherwise, both stayed on the ice during the prime of their careers. How many goals does Ovechkin have in his career Both Ovechkin and Gretzky averaged about 49 goals per season, but some might say Ovechkin is still in the prime of his career, considering the relatively consistent trajectory of his scoring. So who is better, Gretzky or Ovechkin? Here are a few more points to help you decide. Whether it's Jordan vs. LeBron or Brady vs. Mahomes, comparisons between great players of different eras can often be a fool's errand. That said, a couple key differences in the eras: Goalies' gear covers more of the goal today Only a few years separate Ovechkin and Gretzky, but like any other sport, hockey equipment evolved during these four-plus decades. Consider how different goalies' pads and mitts were, below, during Gretzky's and Ovechkin's first seasons. To be fair, goalies wore more modern-day uniforms in Gretzky's final seasons, and two years before Ovechkin entered the NHL, the length of goalie pads was limited to 38 inches. NHL scoring at its highest levels in Gretzky era Some will argue that Ovechkin is a greater goal scorer because scoring has become more challenging. Gretzky's early years were played when the NHL averaged the highest average points per game. Of 25 players who scored 65 goals or more in a season, 19 were in Gretzky's era. That includes four seasons where Gretzky scored 71 or more. Ovechkin tallied 65 once. Gretzky has conceded that he may soon lose his scoring title in the coming months. "It's just a matter of time, whether it's late this year, early next year, whenever," Gretzky said about his record this past fall, according to the NHL. "I mean, he's a great player. He's a great goal scorer." But the measure of a great hockey player isn't only how many goals they rack up. Consider how Ovechkin compares to his contemporaries on career points – goals and assists added together. How many career points has Ovechkin earned In his 20 years in the NHL, Gretzky's play contributed to more goals for his teams than any player by far. In addition to leading the league in goals five times, he led the NHL in assists 16 times, leading to a career points record that may never be eclipsed. The Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby joined the NHL in the 2005-06 season with Ovechkin. Crosby has assisted on nearly 50% more goals than Ovechkin has, putting him dozens of points ahead. Below, the top 50 players in career points. Only four have played this season: Evander Kane on what it's been like watching the Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby rivalry Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane weighs in on the Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry and talks about what it's been like to watch both players through the years. Sports Seriously How old is Alex Ovechkin and other milestones Should Ovechkin run out of regular-season games this year, he'll turn 40 in September with one more year on his current Capitals' contract. In addition to the career goal record, he'll have more chances to pile up career statistics. A couple of them: ◾ Points: Ovechkin overtook Phil Esposito's career points mark of 1,590 in early February, putting him 11th (1,617) in the category. Joe Sakic, 10th in points at 1,641, could be within reach next season. ◾ Goalies scored on: Ovechkin already leads in this category with 181 goalies in his 20 years. Less than 9% of those who have played in the league have even scored 180 or more goals. How many goals does Ovechkin have this year How many empty net goals has Ovechkin made After returning from his broken leg in late December, Ovechkin scored his 17th goal of the season in his first game back, collecting his 62nd empty-net goal of his career. He scored his 65th empty-netter March 15. Empty-net goals are a perk of playing for one of the top teams in the NHL for several years, and Ovechkin has taken advantage of empty nets more often than any player in league history, according to Statmuse. He topped Gretzky's 56 empty netters last season when he tallied three. Rounding the top five of empty-net goal scorers, according to Statmuse: Marian Hossa, 40, Brad Marchand, 38, and Sidney Crosby, 37.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Ovechkin scores again Sunday. See how close he is toppling Wayne Gretzky's record
Alex Ovechkin scores again Sunday. See how close he is toppling Wayne Gretzky's record The countdown is on with Alex Ovechkin just 5 goals from overtaking Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's career goal leader – a mark that once seemed unsurmountable and earned Gretzky the nickname The Great One. The Great Eight, as the Washington Capital is sometimes called, began the season 41 goals behind Gretzky's 894. But, perhaps, numbers fall short of conveying how dominant the two players' careers have been. He scored his 37th of the year Sunday afternoon. From goals to points, our series of charts below — based on NHL and Hockey Reference data — show the gulf that Gretzky and Ovechkin have created between themselves and their contemporaries as they solidified their positions as two of the league's greats. Ovechkin tracker: How many goals does Alex Ovechkin need to pass Wayne Gretzky? Tracking all his stats Three NHL players scored more than 800 goals in their careers It's interesting to note in the chart below, how one player has stood out from others of their generations since the 1950s when Maurice Richard became the NHL's first 400-goal scorer — and later first 500-goal scorer. A couple decades later Gordie Howe finished his 33-year career with 801 goals. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. So how did Gretzky and Ovechkin get there? Combine consistent all-star play with health and longevity, and their career milestones became more plausible. Gretzky lost a large portion of his 1992-93 season to a back injury, while Ovechkin lost 16 games this year to a broken leg. Otherwise, both stayed on the ice during the prime of their careers. How many goals does Ovechkin have in his career Both Ovechkin and Gretzky averaged about 49 goals per season, but some might say Ovechkin is still in the prime of his career, considering the relatively consistent trajectory of his scoring. So who is better, Gretzky or Ovechkin? Here are a few more points to help you decide. Whether it's Jordan vs. LeBron or Brady vs. Mahomes, comparisons between great players of different eras can often be a fool's errand. That said, a couple key differences in the eras: Goalies' gear covers more of the goal today Only a few years separate Ovechkin and Gretzky, but like any other sport, hockey equipment evolved during these four-plus decades. Consider how different goalies' pads and mitts were, below, during Gretzky's and Ovechkin's first seasons. To be fair, goalies wore more modern-day uniforms in Gretzky's final seasons, and two years before Ovechkin entered the NHL, the length of goalie pads was limited to 38 inches. NHL scoring at its highest levels in Gretzky era Some will argue that Ovechkin is a greater goal scorer because scoring has become more challenging. Gretzky's early years were played when the NHL averaged the highest average points per game. Of 25 players who scored 65 goals or more in a season, 19 were in Gretzky's era. That includes four seasons where Gretzky scored 71 or more. Ovechkin tallied 65 once. Gretzky has conceded that he may soon lose his scoring title in the coming months. "It's just a matter of time, whether it's late this year, early next year, whenever," Gretzky said about his record this past fall, according to the NHL. "I mean, he's a great player. He's a great goal scorer." But the measure of a great hockey player isn't only how many goals they rack up. Consider how Ovechkin compares to his contemporaries on career points – goals and assists added together. How many career points has Ovechkin earned In his 20 years in the NHL, Gretzky's play contributed to more goals for his teams than any player by far. In addition to leading the league in goals five times, he led the NHL in assists 16 times, leading to a career points record that may never be eclipsed. The Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby joined the NHL in the 2005-06 season with Ovechkin. Crosby has assisted on nearly 50% more goals than Ovechkin has, putting him dozens of points ahead. Below, the top 50 players in career points. Only four have played this season: Evander Kane on what it's been like watching the Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby rivalry Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane weighs in on the Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry and talks about what it's been like to watch both players through the years. Sports Seriously How old is Alex Ovechkin and other milestones Should Ovechkin run out of regular-season games this year, he'll turn 40 in September with one more year on his current Capitals' contract. In addition to the career goal record, he'll have more chances to pile up career statistics. A couple of them: ◾ Points: Ovechkin overtook Phil Esposito's career points mark of 1,590 in early February, putting him 11th (1,612) in the category. Joe Sakic, 10th in points at 1,641, could be within reach next season. ◾ Goalies scored on: Ovechkin already leads in this category with 181 goalies in his 20 years. Less than 9% of those who have played in the league have even scored 180 or more goals. How many goals does Ovechkin have this year How many empty net goals has Ovechkin made After returning from his broken leg in late December, Ovechkin scored his 17th goal of the season in his first game back, collecting his 62nd empty-net goal of his career. He scored his 65th empty-netter March 15. Empty-net goals are a perk of playing for one of the top teams in the NHL for several years, and Ovechkin has taken advantage of empty nets more often than any player in league history, according to Statmuse. He topped Gretzky's 56 empty netters last season when he tallied three. Rounding the top five of empty-net goal scorers, according to Statmuse: Marian Hossa, 40, Brad Marchand, 38, and Sidney Crosby, 37.
New York Times
24-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Senators' Drake Batherson discusses recent offensive struggles: ‘You just got to turn the page'
OTTAWA — Drake Batherson and his teammates didn't have to think about the pressures of a playoff chase on Sunday afternoon. He just needed to beat his teammate, Anton Forsberg, as part of a friendly shootout. Trading in his helmet for a backward cap, Batherson skated up ice. When he got close to Forsberg, he faked a between-the-legs move before pulling the puck forward and beating Forsberg with his backhand. Batherson twirled his stick before tucking it back like a sword remaining in its sheath. Ok @drrakebatherson that was nasty 🤮#GoSensGo — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 23, 2025 Batherson's confidence was displayed Sunday as a participant in the Sens Skills event at Canadian Tire Centre. Senators players were split into two teams and participated in events including the hardest shot, accuracy challenges and the shootout. Batherson won the hardest shot after launching the puck into the vacant cage at 104.4 miles per hour. Advertisement 'A few years ago, I was 103,' Batherson said. 'And then (Jakob) Chychrun and (Zack) MacEwen smoked me last year. So, I had to come back for some revenge this year.' It had been less than 24 hours since Batherson and the Senators returned to NHL action after nearly two weeks away. Batherson had just come off his worst performance of the year in a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens and didn't look as confident as he did Sunday. The winger ended the game with a season-worst minus-3 and had a hand in two goals against thanks to some mistakes in the defensive end. GO DEEPER Takeaways: Senators desperately need Tkachuk, Pinto, Norris back for playoff chase Batherson's game, much like his teammates' — save for Jake Sanderson and Tim Stützle — looked 'rusty.' But he's already moved on. 'You just got to turn the page,' Batherson said. 'Obviously, you're frustrated about the game. But you play so many games, you can't be dwelling on the games in the past, and just look forward to the next one. 'Thirteen days off is a long time and jumping right into it. So I think everyone will be better next game, including myself.' The Senators need Batherson, among other players, to return to form over the next 25 games. In the absence of Shane Pinto and Josh Norris due to injuries, the Senators could use a win to snap their four-game losing streak. More is needed from the Senators' 23rd-ranked offence, which has had to deal with lengthy slumps from key players throughout the season. Batherson has been mostly cold over his last 29 games since scoring a hat trick on Dec. 11 against the Anaheim Ducks. The winger even played through two 10-game goal-less droughts. Batherson doesn't shy away from his struggles. But he appears confident enough that he could break his slide sooner rather than later. And while more is needed, he has six points in his last six games (two goals, four points). According to Hockey Reference, Batherson is still on pace for a career-best 68-point season. Advertisement 'I don't think it's been as hot as the start of the season was,' Batherson said. 'But as a player, I've gone through that before, where I've had months that are good and months that aren't great. And I always say the hardest thing in the NHL is staying consistent. It's something of a work in progress and (I'm) trying to pick at all the time. But you're going to go through slumps in your career, it's just about how fast you can get out of them.' Batherson's laidback demeanour was likely helped by the theme of the day. The Nova Scotian was excited about showing off his skills to the fans and even signed autographs following the event. But he generally wants to keep things 'light' when things don't go his way. It means not talking about hockey with his friends, playing 'Call of Duty' on Xbox and taking his dogs out for walks. 'If you're worried about it all the time at home and thinking about it, it's not going to get better faster,' Batherson said. 'I think you've got to try and stay (as) positive as you can even though you're pretty frustrated at how it's going.' With the Senators not back in action until Wednesday, fans will stare feverishly at the wild-card standings. The Senators currently hold on to a spot, and fans' fears can be eased if Batherson finds the back of the net a bit more consistently. (Top photo of Drake Batherson skating beside Montreal's Patrik Laine: André Ringuette / NHLI via Getty Images)
USA Today
23-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ovechkin vs. Gretzky: After 3 goals Sunday, see how close Caps star is to scoring record
The countdown is on with Alex Ovechkin just 13 goals from overtaking Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's career goal leader – a mark that once seemed unsurmountable and earned Gretzky the nickname The Great One. The Great Eight, as the Washington Capital is sometimes called, began the season 41 goals behind Gretzky's 894. But, perhaps, numbers fall short of conveying how dominant the two players' careers have been. From goals to points, our series of charts below — based on NHL and Hockey Reference data — show the gulf that Gretzky and Ovechkin have created between themselves and their contemporaries as they solidified their positions as two of the league's greats. Ovechkin tracker:How many goals does Alex Ovechkin need to pass Wayne Gretzky? Tracking all his stats Three NHL players scored more than 800 goals in their careers It's interesting to note in the chart below, how one player has stood out from others of their generations since the 1950s when Maurice Richard became the NHL's first 400-goal scorer — and later first 500-goal scorer. A couple decades later Gordie Howe finished his 33-year career with 801 goals. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. So how did Gretzky and Ovechkin get there? Combine consistent all-star play with health and longevity, and their career milestones became more plausible. Gretzky lost a large portion of his 1992-93 season to a back injury, while Ovechkin lost 16 games this year to a broken leg. Otherwise, both stayed on the ice during the prime of their careers. How many goals does Ovechkin have in his career Both Ovechkin and Gretzky averaged about 49 goals per season, but some might say Ovechkin is still in the prime of his career, considering the relatively consistent trajectory of his scoring. So who is better, Gretzky or Ovechkin? Here are a few more points to help you decide. Whether it's Jordan vs. LeBron or Brady vs. Mahomes, comparisons between great players of different eras can often be a fool's errand. That said, a couple key differences in the eras: Goalies\' gear covers more of the goal today Only a few years separate Ovechkin and Gretzky, but like any other sport, hockey equipment evolved during these four-plus decades. Consider how different goalies' pads and mitts were, below, during Gretzky's and Ovechkin's first seasons. To be fair, goalies wore more modern-day uniforms in Gretzky's final seasons, and two years before Ovechkin entered the NHL, the length of goalie pads was limited to 38 inches. NHL scoring at its highest levels in Gretzky era Some will argue that Ovechkin is a greater goal scorer because scoring has become more challenging. Gretzky's early years were played when the NHL averaged the highest average points per game. Of 25 players who scored 65 goals or more in a season, 19 were in Gretzky's era. That includes four seasons where Gretzky scored 71 or more. Ovechkin tallied 65 once. Gretzky has conceded that he may soon lose his scoring title in the coming months. "It's just a matter of time, whether it's late this year, early next year, whenever," Gretzky said about his record this past fall, according to the NHL. "I mean, he's a great player. He's a great goal scorer." But the measure of a great hockey player isn't only how many goals they rack up. Consider how Ovechkin compares to his contemporaries on career points – goals and assists added together. How many career points has Ovechkin earned In his 20 years in the NHL, Gretzky's play contributed to more goals for his teams than any player by far. In addition to leading the league in goals five times, he led the NHL in assists 16 times, leading to a career points record that may never be eclipsed. The Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby joined the NHL in the 2005-06 season with Ovechkin. Crosby has assisted on nearly 50% more goals than Ovechkin has, putting him dozens of points ahead. Below, the top 50 players in career points. Only four have played this season: How old is Alex Ovechkin and other milestones Should Ovechkin run out of regular-season games this year, he'll turn 40 in September with one more year on his current Capitals' contract. In addition to the career goal record, he'll have more chances to pile up career statistics. A couple of them: ◾ Points: Ovechkin overtook Phil Esposito's career points mark of 1,590 in early February, putting him 11th (1,593) in the category. Joe Sakic, 10th in points at 1,641, could be within reach next season. ◾ Goalies scored on: Ovechkin already leads in this category with 179 goalies in his 20 years. Less than 9% of those who have played in the league have even scored 179 or more goals. How many goals does Ovechkin have this year How many empty net goals has Ovechkin made After returning from his broken leg in late December, Ovechkin scored his 17th goal of the season in his first game back, collecting his 62nd empty-net goal of his career. He scored his 64th empty-netter Sunday. Empty-net goals are a perk of playing for one of the top teams in the NHL for several years, and Ovechkin has taken advantage of empty nets more often than any player in league history, according to Statmuse. He topped Gretzky's 56 empty netters last season when he tallied three. Rounding the top five of empty-net goal scorers, according to Statmuse: Marian Hossa, 40, Brad Marchand, 38, and Sidney Crosby, 36.
