Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin ties NHL record for most 25-goal seasons
Alex Ovechkin continues to build on his legacy as the best goal-scorer in NHL history.
The Washington Capitals‘ captain scored his 25th goal of the season during Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators, and in doing so, he’s tied the NHL record for most 25-goal seasons in NHL history.
Ovechkin's 20 25-goal seasons are tied with Gordie Howe for the most in NHL history.
Alex Ovechkin scores his 25th goal of the season to put the Capitals ahead 1-0. Ovechkin has reached the 25-goal mark for the 20th time in his 21-year career.
Ovechkin scored his goal in the second period of the game, coming in roughly halfway through the frame. With the game still scoreless, the puck floated towards the blueline, where defenseman Rasmus Sandin corralled the puck and fired it towards the net. The shot found Ovechkin drifting towards the net, and with his stick on the ice, he tipped the puck towards the net, beating Sens’ netminder Linus Ullmark and opening the scoring.
With the goal, Ovechkin scored his 25th of the season, with that becoming the 20th time he’s done so in his NHL career. Ovechkin has achieved the feat in all but one season of his career, falling one goal short of 25 in the 2020-21 season which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He scored at a 43-goal pace over a full 82-game season that year.
Ovechkin ties Gordie Howe for the most seasons with 25 goals, although he did so in much fewer seasons. While Ovechkin did it in 20 of 21 seasons, Howe did so in 26 seasons. However, Howe also achieved the feat during consistently shorter seasons, playing more than 70 games in a season just four times in his career.
Ovechkin also had the longer streak of 25+ goal seasons, doing so in a span of 15 years from 2005-06 to 2019-20. Howe’s longest streak was 11 seasons from 1949-50 to 1959-60.
Ovechkin entered Wednesday’s game with 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 68 games. The nine-time Rocket Richard Trophy-winner likely won’t add a 10th to his collection this season, as he’s tied for 43rd in goals and is 20 behind the leader, Nathan MacKinnon.