Alexander Ovechkin is on the cusp of breaking the “unbreakable.”
Ovechkin scored the 890th goal of his career against the Sabres on Sunday, meaning he is five goals shy of passing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894, and the 39-year-old Russian still has plenty of runway left to get the job done this season.
Ovechkin and the Capitals have nine games left before the playoffs, meaning Ovi needs to score 0.56 goals per contest to eclipse The Great One in 2024-25.
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The Great 8 is clipping at 0.65 goals per game this season, with 37 tallies in 57 contests. Ovechkin has eight goals in his last 16 outings.
The Moscow native has averaged 0.60 goals per game over his 20-year career.
DraftKings Sportsbook has posted odds on Ovechkin’s record chase all season, and things couldn’t be tighter as we head down the stretch.
Ovechkin is now -165 to pass Gretzky before the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Betting odds: Will Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s record this season?
Bookmakers believe it is close to a 50/50 chance that Ovechkin breaks the record before the end of the campaign.
Ovechkin opened the season as a +1000 long shot to break the record this season.
There are other ways to bet Ovechkin’s goal chase.
Sportsbooks have had Ovi-related props up all year, including the method of his 895th goal, whether or not it will be an empty-netter, and the odds on which team he will break the record against.
Method of Ovechkin’s 895th goal
| Method | Odds |
|---|---|
| Even strength | -220 |
| Power play | +160 |
| Shorthanded | +6000 |
Nobody has scored more power-play goals in NHL history than Ovechkin’s 321, but it’s odds-on that Ovi will score his record-setter at even strength.
Will Alex Ovechkin’s 895th Goal be an empty-netter?
Ovechkin holds the record for most empty-net goals in NHL history with 65, but head coach Spencer Carbery has indicated that he and his captain have discussed whether or not he’d want to set the record with an empty-netter.
Still, it’s hard to imagine Ovechkin looking off the yawning cage with history on the line.
Opponent for Ovechkin’s 895th goal
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +145 |
| New York Islanders | +230 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +400 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +600 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +1600 |
The Capitals have nine games remaining in the 2024-25 season, with three of them coming at home. The Caps play three teams (Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, and Islanders) twice before the end of the campaign.
Washington wraps up its season in Pittsburgh against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. That would be the most poetic way for Ovechkin to break Gretzky’s record.
Washington Capitals’ remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 | Boston Bruins | Away |
| April 2 | Carolina Hurricanes | Away |
| April 4 | Chicago Blackhawks | Home |
| April 6 | New York Islanders | Away |
| April 10 | Carolina Hurricanes | Home |
| April 12 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Away |
| April 13 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Home |
| April 15 | New York Islanders | Away |
| April 17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Away |
