Ovechkin reaches 30-goals for 19th time in NHL; 12 away from Gretzky’s record

lex Ovechkin has added another milestone to his illustrious career, scoring 30 goals in a season for the 19th time in his 20-year NHL tenure. The Washington Capitals captain set the league record last season with his 18th such campaign and extended it on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames.

Ovechkin fired a one-timer past Dan Vladar on a power play early in the third period, igniting chants of “Ovi! Ovi!” from the home crowd at Capital One Arena. The goal, his 883rd in the NHL, puts him just 12 away from surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894.

“I was cheating a little bit, but there’s a reason why he has so many goals like that,” Vladar said after Calgary’s 3-1 victory, which moved them into a playoff spot. “It’s going to be a story for my kids one day that a player like that scored on me.”

Ovechkin, 39, joins Teemu Selanne, Johnny Bucyk and Gordie Howe as the only players in league history to score 30 goals in a season at that age or older. With a recent hat-trick performance against Edmonton, he remains on track to surpass Gretzky’s record by early April.

“My linemates, teammates do a pretty good job finding me out there, and I just have to finish it up,” Ovechkin said.

Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who blocked eight shots—including two from Ovechkin—acknowledged the significance of the Russian forward’s chase for history.

“He’s on a great chase, and you’ve got to eat a few,” Andersson said. “That’s just the way the game went. Now it feels good.”

With the Capitals fighting for a playoff spot and Ovechkin edging closer to history, all eyes will remain on the veteran forward as he continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s mark.