“Wayne texted me before the game,” says Alex Ovechkin before reaching The Great One’s record of 894 goals

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 5, 2025, 11:19 IST

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Alex Ovechkin scored his 894th career NHL goal, bringing him within one goal of Wayne Gretzky's record for the most career NHL goals. The Washington Capitals' alternate captain has six upcoming games to set a new record, with his next game against the New York Rangers on April 6, 2025.

“Wayne texted me before the game,” says Alex Ovechkin before reaching The Great One’s record of 894 goals

(Image via Getty: Alex Ovechkin)

The day has finally dawned upon all of us. We are all probably happier than Washington Capitals’ Russian professional ice hockey left winger and alternate captain, Alex Ovechkin, is right now. At the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks’ NHL game today, Alex Ovechkin scored his 894th career NHL goal! The one that the Capitals’ alternate captain has been chasing ever since this 2024-2025 NHL season began! But there’s a twist here. Before the game between the Capitals and Blackhawks began, someone texted Alex Ovechkin. Someone as great as The Great One! Wayne Gretzky. And guess what Wayne Gretzky told Alex Ovechkin? “Score three.”

Wayne Gretzky texted the Washington Capitals’ alternate captain, Alex Ovechkin, to score three career NHL goals in the Capitals versus Blackhawks game

Talking to NHL.com after winning against the Chicago Blackhawks with a refreshing score of 5-3, Alex Ovechkin shared, “Wayne(Gretzky) texted me before the game. He said, ‘Score three.’ It’s been a special moment. It’s great for hockey, great for DC, (and) great for all our fans to do it here in Washington. It’s fun. It’s always a pleasure to be in that category with those names. And thank you, Wayne(Gretzky), for your support. It’s great.”

Out of the three career NHL goals requested by The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, Capitals’ alternate captain, Alex Ovechkin successfully managed to score two goals. Taking his total to 894! Right, where Wayne Gretzky’s most-scored career NHL goals record stands tall!

Capitals’ alternate captain Alex Ovechkin is finally set to break Wayne Gretzky’s most-scored career NHL goals record of 894 in the upcoming NHL games, with just 1 goal to go

39 YO Alex Ovechkin, an inspiration to millions, is only one goal away from being at the top of the leaders’ chart - most-scored career NHL goals. The upcoming games will bear the fruit of this historical moment! And guess what? There are six games lined up for the Washington Capitals. And their alternate captain, Alex Ovechkin, would set his own career NHL goals record! More than Wayne Gretzky did. The upcoming games are against the New York Rangers on 4/6/2025, the Carolina Panthers on 4/11/2025, the Columbus Blue Jackets on 4/12/2025, the Blue Jackets again on 4/14/2025, New York Rangers on 4/16/2025, and lastly, his dear friend, Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins on 4/18/2025. Are you excited?
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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