Capitals’ Ovechkin on the Chase for Wayne Gretzky’s Scoring Record
The Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin is on the chase for Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record. With the Detroit Red Wings vying for a wild-card spot in the playoffs, every move that Detroit made on Tuesday, March 18, could have put Ovechkin over the top for scoring. In the end, though, Detroit slowed Ovechkin’s run despite the Capitals’ 4-1victory over the Red Wings.
On Thursday, March 20, Ovechkin scored his 888th goal in a 3-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers. He is within seven now of breaking Gretzky’s NHL record of 894.
Speaking about Ovechkin to Detroit Hockey Now, Detroit head coach Todd McLellan said, “You know where (Ovechkin) is. Teams have just went and stood right beside him, and he’s still good enough to get in the opening. He’s good enough to fire pucks through people. He’s powerful enough to do that. But their team and their power play evolution has also allowed him to roam around a little bit. He’s not always just in that spot. When somebody takes him away. He and (defenseman John) Carlson are prepared to rotate and move around.”
Ovechkin’s 888th goal in Thursday’s game is also his team-leading 35th goal of the season.
Meanwhile, the Red Wings are set to take on the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Detroit is currently 32-30-6 and is sixth in the Atlantic Division.