Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 801st career goal on Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets, tying NHL great Gordie Howe for second all-time in NHL history in Goals Scored.
The goal came at 18:22 of the first period and marked Ovechkin’s 21st goal of the 2022-23 season.
801… pic.twitter.com/zXC4LvjsWn
— NHL (@NHL) December 24, 2022
The goal comes after Ovechkin became the third player in the NHL’s history to reach 800 career goals with a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks, a milestone that prompted a wide array of responses from the hockey world and beyond.
Alex Ovechkin 🤝 Gordie Howe#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Uq30Nmtoz0
— Eric Moon (@ericmoon22) December 24, 2022
Ovechkin is now 93 goals shy of tying Wayne Gretzky for the most Goals Scored all-time and 94 from becoming the league’s all-time leading goal-getter.
Alex #Ovechkin ties Gordie #Howe for 2nd all time on the #NHL goal-scorer list with his 801st career goal. pic.twitter.com/rk9vqavMdD
— HJ Mai (@HJ_Mai) December 24, 2022
Earlier this season, against the Red Wings (with whom Howe spent over 20 seasons), Ovechkin tied Mr. Hockey to become the leader all-time in Goals Scored with one franchise, passing the man known as “Mr. Hockey” two days later.
Gordie Howe. Wayne Gretzky. Alex Ovechkin.
Their 801 moments. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3MqbCU6ETF
— NHL (@NHL) December 24, 2022
Ovechkin scores his 801st goal 42 years, 8 months, and 17 days after Howe scored his 801st and final NHL goal (April 6, 1980 – Ovechkin was born in September 1985). In the team’s last game against the Ottawa Senators, Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leader in Shots on Goal, surpassing Hall of Famer Ray Bourque.