The 39-year-old winger took a pass from Rasmus Sandin on a 2-on-1 breakaway and fired it past rookie Leevi Merilainen, the record 179th goaltender he's scored on.

Entering the 2024-25 season, Ovechkin needed 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career tallies. After scoring goal No. 873 on January 11, Ovechkin now needs just 22 goals to pass Gretzky for the NHL’s record.

Alex Ovechkin has broken the NHL record for the most goaltenders scored on. Ovechkin made Ottawa's Leevi Merilainen No. 179 during the Washington Capitals’ road game at the Senators.

The Great Eight is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record of 894, which Gretzky reached on March 29, 1999, against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin began this season with 853 career goals.

Leevi Meriläinen joined an exclusive — but not enjoyable — club for goaltenders, becoming the 179th netminder that Ovechkin has beat over his 20-year career. Ovechkin's goal on Meriläinen moved him past Jaromir Jagr for the all-time record of most goalies scored on in the history of the NHL.

Alex Ovechkin scored with 1:53 left in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

For the first time in his career, there is no one between Ovechkin and Gretzky on the all-time list. He passed Gordie Howe for second place in 2022-23, breaking Gretzky's record f

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is already one of the most heralded players in NHL history. The legendary forward already has a ton of records on the NHL history books, but there's one more still to go that could put him in the pantheon of all-time greats.