
Washington Capitals’ forward Alex Ovechkin has been making history on a nightly basis, and that was no different Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks when the Capitals’ captain scored his 40th goal of the season, becoming the second-oldest player in NHL history to score 40 goals in a single season.
Alex Ovechkin is one goal away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894. #Gr8Chase
He’s the second-oldest player to score 40 goals in league history.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 4, 2025
The oldest player to hit the 40-goal mark was Hockey Hall of Fame forward Gordie Howe, who scored 44 goals in 1968-69 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Ovechkin also has the third-oldest 40-goal season in NHL history, scoring 42 as a 37-year-old during the 2022-23 season.
It’s the 14th time Ovechkin has hit the 40-goal mark in his career.
The goal was also Ovechkin’s 893rd career goal, putting him just one goal away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894.
Ovechkin has racked up 893 goals and 724 assists for 1,617 points in 1,486 career NHL games. Ovechkin is second on the all-time goals list, as well as being 11th on the all-time points list. He has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times, scoring 50 or more goals on nine occasions and scoring a career-high 65 goals during the 2007-08 campaign.
Ovechkin also won the Hart Trophy three times, winning in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2012-13.
Ovechkin led the Capitals to a Stanley Cup in 2018, Washington’s first championship in franchise history. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy for Stanley Cup Playoff MVP, scoring 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points.
In 151 career playoff games, Ovechkin has 72 goals and 69 assists for 141 points.
You can follow along on our Alex Ovechkin Goal Tracker, as Ovechkin is just two goals away from making history.