<p>While <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/washington-capitals/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington Capitals</a> winger Alex Ovechkin continues to chase down Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, he broke a different record on Thursday night.</p>



<p>With his overtime winning goal in the Caps’ 1-0 win over the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/ottawa-senators/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ottawa Senators</a>, Ovechkin has set a new NHL record for most goaltenders scored on at 179.</p>



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Ovechkin has surpassed Jaromir Jagr for the most goaltenders scored on in NHL history, now totaling 179 after scoring his first career goal against Leevi Merilainen tonight. <a href="https://t.co/e5rZwPGfyX">pic.twitter.com/e5rZwPGfyX</a></p>— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/CapitalsPR/status/1880082691959451812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Jaromir Jagr previously held the record at 178, but found himself tied with Ovechkin two months ago when the Capitals captain beat the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/utah-hockey-club/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah Hockey Club</a>‘s Connor Ingram. With Ovechkin scoring on Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen, he is now in sole possession of the record.</p>



<p>Ovechkin broke the record on Thursday with the lone goal in their win over the Senators in overtime. After the Senators had a scoring chance in the Capitals end, defenseman Rasmus Sandin skated the puck up the ice, creating a partial 2-on-1 with Ovechkin before dishing it to the Russian winger, who promptly fired a wrist shot to beat Merilainen and both win the game and set the record.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="194"></div>



<p>Despite all the goals Ovechkin has scored in his career, he hasn’t given too many goalies nightmares about scoring on him a lot. Of the 179 goalies he has scored on, only 47 have allowed more than 5 to Ovechkin, only 11 have allowed more than 10, and only Marc-Andre Fleury, Henrik Lundqvist, Kari Lehtonen and Carey Price have allowed more than 20, with Fleury’s 28 being the most allowed by any goalie.</p>



<p>The goal also gave Ovechkin the 874th goal of his career. He now sits only 20 goals back from tying Gretzky’s record, and 21 away from winning it. The Capitals have 37 games left this season, which means Ovechkin could score 26 if he continues at his current pace this season.</p>



<p>Despite dealing with the worst injury of his career, Ovechkin has been having a bounce back season with his performance in 2024-25. In just 29 games, he has 21 goals and 12 assists for 33 points, with the goal totals being the 13th-most in the league.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="170"></div>


Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with team after scoring a goal in overtime against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.