Ovechkin Passes Howe, Only Gretzky Remains on the All Time List

[@ZachGartiser]

It’s amazing to watch Ovi seemingly take a pot shot at the net sometimes and watch it go in. You think he just does it to get a shot on goal but in reality most of the time he knows exactly where it’ll end up. Incredible, generational talent. GOAT.

[@RIPJimmyA7X]

His accuracy is unreal, and it doesn't take him any time at all to release it

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

I have a hard time cheering for a supporter of the murdering of Ukrainians, but thats just me I guess.

[@DaseggMQB]

The first caps game I went to as an adult (went to one when I was like 5 and don’t remember lol) I was in the bathroom and walking back through the hall to my seat. As soon I got the ice in sight I see OV raise his stick up and one time it in the net. Absolute magic

[@drjoker7828]

The man was born for that sport

[@mikeb.2925]

When you consider how anemic the Washington offense is this year, Ovechkin might be a legit Hart candidate given he has 13 points more than 2nd place Kuznetsov but also twice the goals of 2nd place Sheary. He's put the team on his back again and is carrying them uphill. At his age, it's incredible how good he is especially with the rest of the offense struggling.

[@sethmizrachi8337]

Just wait until Backstrom and Wilson get healthy.

[@chilou8708]

Ovi is the best player of this generation. It’s nice to see Alex dominate at this stage in his career.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

I personally don't find it particularly exciting when genocide supporters are good at a sport.

[@edalder2000]

I am a 30+years Capitals fan. I never considered as a teenager 35 years ago that anyone would pass Howe and encroach upon Gretzky. We won’t see talent like Ovechkin again for a few decades, if ever. Words fail to describe so just drink it in folks.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

We also probably won't see a genocide supporter who should be banned from the NHL like Ovie again for a few decades.

[@paulschmitz9175]

@@Naskinlahtaaja He's an athlete, not a politician.

[@chrislautoronto]

Totally agree that it’s even more impressive he scores most goal around the same spot…everybody knows but no one can stop him.

[@frankthetank819]

Exactly they can’t stop him it’s his spot he made that spot they know it’s coming and still gets it best ever

[@KryptikViper]

Imagine there were no lockout or shortened seasons. He'd be breaking the record THIS season, without a question.

[@newquinn22]

Yeah, thats about 150 missed games

[@damiankirkwood7924]

Definitely would have been a possibility

[@sammyweed4771]

Yep just think if they counted Gretzky and Howes goals from the other leagues he be nowhere near theses Records

[@GreekboyyD]

@@sammyweed4771 Yes. Let's move the goal posts to diminish what Ovechkin's done and include goals from inferior leagues. 😂🤡

[@sammyweed4771]

@@GreekboyyD well that’s all I hear about if ovi would had the time he missed cause of Covid. Well theses Leagues where Professional leagues there Records should count

[@chrisbelos2834]

what i love about last night is that Ovi scored a funny goal for number 802. he had the empty net, chose to pass to Kuznetsov, who didn't want it at all (the fans were shocked as well), he passed it back to Ovi and he scored. hahahaha!

[@karlosspades7293]

Heck no kuzzy wants his buddy to be all time, Just like Barkov doesn't like empty net goals, barky could has as many empty netters as 30+

[@jkliao6486]

You can tell he didn't want it to be an empty netter. Locker (or Joe B) even mentioned that during the pregame interview, Ovi was asked whether he would shoot if it's an ENG, he didn't answer that question. Sure it is not as good as scoring against a goalie, but it doesn't take away anything from that goal, and a no look backhand is just a fabulous.

[@chrisbelos2834]

@@jkliao6486 yeah i'm fine with no goalie allowing 802 if i think about it.

[@sethmizrachi8337]

And the goal itself was a no-look, behind the back shot.

[@92OnTV]

2023/24 season just finished Ovi scored 31, reached 853 goals and have 41 to go. Just one regular season for himself will do it. Than he can try to beat regular + playoff 1016 goal record, now he have 925.

[@riff5fki]

I think its also a credit to how far we've come in terms of sports health for his consistency too like he has managed to keep himself in great shape for this long in a game that REALLY burns its players with injury and repeated hits

[@spencerirvine4308]

Merry Christmas, Shannon! As a lifelong Caps fan, I never would’ve thought that Ovi would’ve ever come close to Gretzky’s record! Incredible to watch him play and it’s amazing to know we likely won’t see another goal scoring phenom like him for awhile.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

Remember that he is a supporter of Putler and does not view the massacre of Ukrainians as a big deal.

[@davidtuttle7556]

@@Naskinlahtaaja He’s on the record being against the war. And Shannon has asked us to keep politics off the channel.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

@@davidtuttle7556 no, he is "against the war" only insofar as how he wants the war to stop in the manner of russian tanks rolling into kiev over dead Ukrainian bodies. He only has ever said that he wants "the war to stop" while consistently refusing to condemn the Russian aggression, which is identical to Goebbels saying that "he wants the war to stop" with the allies. This genocidal freak should be banned from the NHL until he takes a stand against the genocidal politicians he supports.

[@ishave1627]

Interestingly, if you correct Ovechkin's stats for lost games due to lockouts and Covid, he should have played 151 additional games (assuming 82 games/season). At the .612 rate of scoring goals, that would give him 92 additional goals. That would put him at 802 + 92 = 894 goals, which I believe is a very magic number.

[@KobeLoverTatum]

adjust* or edit*, definitely not correct.

[@KobeLoverTatum]

not to mention Wayne has 46 WHA goals that aren’t counted in the NHL even though the leagues merged

[@ishave1627]

@@KobeLoverTatum Scoring in leagues with lesser quality (overall) players should not count. If that's the case, let's count Ovechkin's goals from the KHL during the lockout. I used games which Ovechkin was *prevented* from playing, such as lockout or pandemic. You also forget Gretzky played in the non-salary cap era, which means his teams were filled with superstars and HOF talent. I'm talking Messier, Kurri, Coffey, Robitaille, etc. Great players like these improve your scoring chances. The only long-term player Ovechkin has played with of notice is Backstrom, who is a borderline HOFer.

[@iainjenkins6576]

@@ishave1627 ohh shit buddy knows his stats

[@paulschmitz9175]

@@KobeLoverTatum The leagues did not merge. The NHL absorbed the WHA.

[@Lukejanssen1987]

Ovie is a beast. Good luck to him hope he keeps it up!

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

I only hope that he scores one more point after he condemns the murdering of Ukrainians by the dictator who he has only ever shown support for.

[@lessthansion]

I remember when Ovi had a "slump" from 2010-13, all the analysts were saying he washed up. Pierre McGuire famously said he wouldn't score 50 goals gain. Since then Ovi has had 6x 50 goal seasons and a 49 goal season.

[@andrewgrover62061]

I'm not a Washington Capitals fan I'm a Blackhawks fan but Ovi is my favorite non-Blackhawk player. I've never seen anyone close to Gretzky's 894 goals I hope he passes Gretzky because as someone born in 1990 I knew who Wayne Gretzky was and what he meant to hockey but for everything Gretzky meant to the NHL then. That's what Ovechkin means to the NHL now

[@Goooooooooooooooober]

Ovechkin's goal total would be a good career point total for some previous top NHLers.

[@jeffzrockhistoryresource101]

It has been my good fortune to see his entire carear. What more could any fan ask?

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

I have a suggestion for what you could ask: his condemnation of his favorite presidents attempted genocide of Ukrainians.

[@paulschmitz9175]

@@Naskinlahtaaja He's a an athlete, not a politician.

[@pt93music]

There’s something that you really have to admire about guys like Ovechkin and Crosby still finding ways to improve and be better despite their age. Both of them make the kids look like rookies. It’s amazing to watch them both.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

Also there is something that you really have to despise about someone like Ovechkin who refuses to condemn the massacre of Ukrainians after only ever portraying himself as a supporter of putler.

[@sethmizrachi8337]

@Sami his parents are still in Russia due to his father's health preventing travel. I wouldn't put it past Putin to threaten the parents if Ovi speaks out.

[@HappyHalBallard]

@@Naskinlahtaaja OV has a butler? That's kinda cool! We have a maid but no butler.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

@@sethmizrachi8337 that is a bs excuse, his father has traveled further distances than it would take to leave Russia since the beginning of his heart issues, and if the threat of a ban from the NHL would motivate the millionaire Ovie into getting his father out of russia then even better.

[@mvk4343]

@@Naskinlahtaaja as opposed to all the US players who never condemn the massacres of their own country. But "that's different" right?

[@Chaseraabe]

I agree!! Rooting for him, greatest goal scorer of all time 💯

[@sabinoruiz2080]

I hate when people say well Ovie got an empty nester. Well who has the most empty net goals? Well it’s Mr. Wayne Gretzky he has the most empty net goals in the NHL history

[@SverigeiSverige]

Gretz 56 Ovi 51

[@ethanmccabe8740]

@@SverigeiSverige Gretzky scored 0.062 of his career goals on empty nets. Ovechkin has scored 0.063. Not exactly a big game changer

[@tsholts5173]

I was just thinking of if you were gonna do an Ovi career video now or if he catches Gretzky/when he retires. That answers that. As a Pens fan, the rivalry with him has been tons of fun to watch growing up

[@lunalouhoo]

Add to Ovi's great goal scoring his strong physical play...he is an amazing hockey specimen.

[@McDaddyDab]

Merry Christmas to the GOAT of the hockey YT community. Hope you and yours have a good Christmas!

[@mikemoore6784]

"...and they cannot stop him!" Love it! Thanks for the realist view on the matter.

[@Mayor_Of_Eureka17]

Ovi will be the bar for goal scorers when it's all over.

[@karlosspades7293]

And assists will never be broken

[@Mayor_Of_Eureka17]

@@karlosspades7293 never ever ever

[@wildwilie]

I got tickets for the habs vs caps early april. Would be the first time watching ovi on the ice. I hope he plays.

[@ripapa6355]

Not to call you out, but about 5 years ago you did a vid, and at the end your prediction was that he would slow down and not catch him. ;) Made sense at the time, because no one knew how much of a mutant he was.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

I’m just glad I got to watch his whole career. It’s not like Mario or Gretzky were I was born after their glory years.

[@saiyansatan]

Even though I'm not a Caps fan, it's cool witnessing history. I also like how he's done it all with the same team

[@jkliao6486]

I am happy that when I first started watching hockey as a newbie, I choose to follow Ovi rather than Crosby (because people tend to choose to follow a team with a generational talent when they have no preference) and subsequently became a Caps fan. He is just so much fun to watch!

[@tmdwu5360]

Around the same time i chose the one team to start rooting for that has the coolest logo in my mind, Blackhawks with young up and coming lads called Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook and so on :D still a Hawks fan during these hardest of times.

[@Danny0dbert]

If he doesn't get injured really badly I'm predicting he's going to finish his career with 932 goals. Calling it now.

[@CalculatedRiskAK]

Some players even think he could hit 1000. It's wild.

[@OttawaNow]

Gordie Howe and Chris Chelios played 26 seasons in the NHL. Alex Ovechkin should do the same. Go for 27. We need someone with 1000 regular season goals in the NHL history books. Ovechkin can do it!

[@benchow8851]

Legend has it that Ovie stared at Father Time right between the eyes and said: Nope, not today...

[@colliesis]

Ovi, Gretzky, Lemieux and Bossy. I have all four as the greatest goalscorers of all time, with Ovechkin just a little ahead of the rest! I hate Washington but you bet I cheered for him when those goals went in last night :D

[@emmittmatthews8636]

@@WilliamTheHeretic I agree. Lemieux DOES NOT get enough respect or credit as an elite goal scorer. He was, to me, the greatest goalscorer ever! I've figured out his numbers pretty conservatively, and still allowing for some injuries, etc, he still scores over a 1000 goals I don't think he gets 2000 assists, but 1600-1700 for sure, maybe more. Lemieux is still the greatest goal scorer of all time imo. Ovi I would put second.

[@paulschmitz9175]

@@emmittmatthews8636 You're wrong for one simple reason - durability. Ovechkin has it, Lemieux didn't.

[@emmittmatthews8636]

@@paulschmitz9175 Ovi is, without a doubt, the most consistently great goal scorer in history. In his era to have 9- 50 goal seasons, and 3 others where he could have or should have, plus he's on pace for maybe another one this year?? Damn.. I don't have a problem with anyone saying that he's the greatest. It's all opinion anyway. I'm hard core rooting for him honestly, and I'm a life long Pens fan. He has durability, for sure. Lemieux did not, sadly. Lemieux battled severe back problems from his mid 20's on, 2 back surgeries, a bone infection in his back that could've ended his career before he was like 27. Cancer...hip problems the second half of his career, and a heart condition in the later years of his career that forced him into retirement. The dude BATTLED through a ton of crap. He had other players tying his skates while he was on a 46 game point steak.. he couldn't sit on team flights.. and still was unstoppable. Lemieux came into the league on the worst team, a total laughing stock of a franchise, with no one to play with at all. (Mike Bullard was pretty good, but that's it, and he played 2nd line center). Lemieux would've scored well over 1000 goals. 1100-1200 was possible if truly healthy. Also.. no one says that Bobby Orr isn't the best d- man ever because he only played like 600 something games. Or that Ken Dryden isn't one of the greatest ever because he only played 9 seasons. If I had to choose ONE player to score a big goal in a key game?? Without a doubt it would be Lemieux.

[@JoeOsChannel]

"And how does he do it against the Canucks"... priceless.

[@saleenonly]

The stands after they showed 802 on the jumbotron felt like they were gonna collapse. Go get Gretzky!!

[@delpierochch]

Ovi is an amazing person and professional. Thank you for the wonderful commentaries throughout the year and merry Xmas everyone!

[@imnotyourfriendbuddy1883]

I wouldn't say all that but he is a very good hockey player.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

How can you say that he is an amazing person when he repeatedly refuses to condemn his presidents attempted genocide of Ukrainians? He is quite definitively a sickeningly awful human being who just happens to be good at putting a rubber puck in the net.

[@frontdown3249]

My dude is going for 1000 goals!

[@emmittmatthews8636]

Lemieux most definitely would've had 1000 if not for injuries and illness. Maybe 1,100!!

[@Production1992nr2]

000-100 goals | 167 games 100-200 goals | 129 games 200-300 goals | 177 games 300-400 goals | 161 games 400-500 goals | 167 games 500-600 goals | 189 games 600-700 goals | 154 games 700-800 goals | 161 games

[@justinrogers1807]

It's rare to see the best in a particular sport , but the ones who love sports and are alive in 2022 are lucky to have seen Brady,Tiger,Jordan,Earnhardt Sr, Jimmy Johnson,Gretzky, Lebron, and Now Ovechkin

[@jimmyp410]

🤣🤣"When does he do it and how does he do it against the Canucks?"🤣🤣

[@MFD8724]

Only thing that can stand in his way is a career ending injury. Hope not, I would love to see him break the record. Would be incredible to witness. Merry Christmas! Keep up the fantastic work!

[@killerbeau97]

2 lockouts and the covid shortened season it makes this more impressive

[@rs.matr1x]

Ovechkin and Gretzky both love scoring milestone goals against the Jets.

[@sethmizrachi8337]

I tell people about the "only scores from one spot" that everyone, from the defense to the goalie to the coach to the guy selling beer in the upper level, knows that shot is coming, where it's coming from and a decent idea of when that shot is coming. None of them can stop it with any consistency.

[@TheCPT_Morgan007]

Imagine if the seasons where Ovi had 30 goals, he managed to get 50 🤯 let that sink in.

[@aspalovin]

Imagine no lockout or shortened seasons... He'd take it this year

[@1sunder]

@@aspalovin if we remove the 04 lockout and say he scores 40. he'd probably scores 50 but ill go slightly under + do the full season pace he was on in 12-13 and 20-21 then he would be roughly 15-20 goals off gretzky and we would be talking about when he will reach 1000 goals. its actually insane. he's been so healthy that the hypotheticals are ignoring a global pandemic and 2 lockout impacted seasons.

[@Roller11111]

@nh considering the Rocket winners scored 41, and was still the clutch and grab era with the pre lockout rules, he probably is closer to 30

[@dtown902]

I think the only ones saying he's not going to break Wayne's record are the Don Cherry types who are just pissed off a Canadian will no longer be king. He'd already be there now if we didn't have 2 lockouts and a shortened covid season.

[@Khorney]

I hope he breaks the record and gets over 900. As much of a Gretzky fan I am, records are meant to be broken and I know Gretzky wants him to break it as well.

[@AmokCanuck]

Yup I've come to terms with it. He'd have to do more then that to earn the title of goat tho. Gretzky still has more assists then another player has points

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

I personally wish that he is kicked out of the NHL and only allowed back in after he takes even a mildly opposing position towards the genocide of Ukrainians which he supports.

[@luckyea7]

The average league performance after 2005 (when Ovi joined the NHL) is significantly lower than in the 1980s and early 1990s. In the 80s, the performance per match ranged from 7 to 8 goals, and the most “fun” season was the 1981/82 championship - 8.03 goals (it was in that year that Gretzky set an all-time record - 92 goals in the regular season). In the first half of the 90s, the performance in the NHL was slowly declining (with the exception of the 1992/93 championship), and in the 1996/97 season there was a sharp decrease in this indicator - to 5.83 goals per game. In the 2003/04 regular season, the performance dropped to a terrible 5.14 goals. This may be due to increased competition in the NHL. After the collapse of the USSR, many hockey players who played in the countries of the Warsaw Pact moved to play in the NHL. The best players on the planet are playing in North America right now. During the Gretzky era, there were almost no Europeans in the NHL. In the 1983/84 season. Only 50 foreigners played in the NHL. Ovechkin came into the league during the "dead puck era," playing against bigger, faster goaltenders who are equipped to look like they're working as fighting dog training dummies. The defenders have also become very large. Gretzky scored half of his goals on some skinny, dangling fools who jumped 5 meters out of the “frame”, trying to cut the corner, and then fell onto the ice. In the 1988-1989 season. in the regular season of the NHL, 1 field player from the countries of the former USSR played, after the collapse of the USSR in the 1991-1992 season. 24 field players played in the 1993-1994 season. - 63, and in 2003/04. - 71. As can be seen from the figures, the higher the field players from the countries of the former USSR played, the lower the performance in the NHL. The performance is correlated with the number of players playing in the NHL from the countries of the former USSR. From 1975 to 1991, the clubs of the USSR played 108 matches with the teams of the National Hockey League. During this time, the clubs of the USSR won 58 victories, 10 matches ended in a draw and lost 40 times to the representatives of the NHL. In 1990/91 USSR clubs won 17 times against NHL clubs, lost 8 times and drew 3 times. This indicates the high competitiveness of Soviet hockey players. For example, the results of the teams in which Gretzky played at that time against the teams of the USSR: 01/04/1980 Edmonton Oilers - Dynamo (Moscow) - 1: 4 12/27/1985 Edmonton Oilers - CSKA - 3: 6 12/31/1988 Los Angeles Kings - Dynamo (Riga) - 3:5 12/04/1989 Los Angeles Kings - Khimik (Voskresensk) - 3:6 12/03/1990 Los Angeles Kings - Khimik (Voskresensk) - 5: 1 Also, the symbolic team of the century included 4 players who played in the USSR championships and 2 players who played in the NHL. The six members of the symbolic team were chosen by voting organized by the IIHF. The selection committee included 56 hockey experts from 16 countries in Europe and North America. Symbolic team of the century: Goalkeeper: Vladislav Tretiak (USSR) - 30 votes. Defender: Vyacheslav Fetisov (USSR) - 54 votes. Defender: Börje Salming (Sweden) - 17 votes. Wing: Valery Kharlamov (USSR) - 21 votes. Wing: Sergei Makarov (USSR) - 18 votes. Center forward: Wayne Gretzky (Canada) - 38 votes Ovechkin played in the NHL with more competition than Gretzky. But you can compare the results of these players, at the time when the Soviet players started playing in the NHL. Gretzky played 373 games in the NHL from 1993 to 1998 and scored 120 goals (averaging 0.32 goals per game) at the age of 32-36. Ovechkin, aged 32-36 (from 2017 to 2022), played 353 games in the NHL and scored 222 goals (an average of 0.63 goals per game). Gretzky played 721 NHL games and scored 302 goals from 1988 to 1998 (averaging 0.42 goals per game) at the age of 27-36. Ovechkin, aged 27-36 (from 2012 to 2022), played 721 games in the NHL and scored 441 goals (an average of 0.61 goals per game). During these periods, Ovechkin won against Gretzky in the number of goals scored. In addition, rules contributed to increased performance in the 1980s. Goalkeepers wore narrow shin guards, less sturdy helmets, and play skates, rather than goalie skates, as they are now. Video replays in the league were introduced only in 1991, when Gretzky had already crossed the equator of his career and stopped scoring goals with automatic bursts. In 1993, they changed the rules for playing with a high stick - it was forbidden to lift it above the crossbar, and before that it was allowed to swing up to the shoulder. In 1996, when Gretzky was three years away from retiring from the sport, a trapezoid was introduced - they outlined a section of ice on which the field was forbidden to contact the goalkeepers. Ovechkin also won against Gretzky in the number of seasons in which they became the best scorers. Number of seasons in which the player became the best scorer: 1. Alexander Ovechkin - 9 seasons 2. Bobby Hull - 7 seasons 3. Phil Esposito - 6 seasons 4. Wayne Gretzky - 5 seasons 5. Gordie Howe - 5 seasons 6. Maurice Richard - 5 seasons 7. Charlie Conacher - 5 seasons 8. Pavel Bure - 3 seasons 9. Teemu Selanne - Season 3 10. Mario Lemieux - 3 seasons 11. Brett Hull - 3 seasons 12. Bill Cook - 3 seasons 13. Babe Dy - 3 seasons Wayne Gretzky never became the best sniper after 1991, that is, when, after the collapse of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact, European players poured into the NHL (the number of Europeans in the NHL became more than 5 times), and the competition in the NHL itself increased! And Gretzky's performance dropped noticeably. Wayne Gretzky himself said in an interview that it’s harder to score now than when he was playing (I quote him: “To score 13 goals now - and this is just my opinion - is much more difficult than to score 15 goals, as I did in '93. ").

[@mvk4343]

The Soviets were just better

[@triplemango101]

Oviiiii is the 🐐🐐🐐

[@davidhermes3812]

I was at the game for my birthday and it was by far the greatest birthday I’ve ever had

[@jwbogacki]

With 46 games remaining, he could get almost 30 goals before the season is over. Which means, he could beat gretzkys' record sometime next season or a little bit into the season after the next.

[@CheetahLynx]

So, April or October of 2024?

[@markandersen793]

I say: 2 years from now, December 2024, will be when he passes Gretzky.

[@rolieg81]

I did the math @ his lowest ever .4 goals per game in a season he should get 99 goals in 246 games (3 seasons)

[@emmittmatthews8636]

Nah, not possible to break it next season. He needs 93 more goals to do that. Even if he gets 30 more this year, (which will be hard but possible) he would need 63 next season at age 38. Lol I'm betting he gets close to 50 this year, maybe hits 50. That would leave him with about 65-70 goals left after this year. He'll score in the 40's next year maybe, then break Gretzky's record in the 24'-25' season about ...50 games in. Lol. That's my prediction.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

And with 4 months of the winter season of the war which he supports remaining, he could save at least a couple dozen lives by 180'ing his position on the war!

[@patch8376]

Best goal scorer ever may be not without a little debate, but most consistent elite-level goal scorer for the longest stretch is as objective as water is wet, and in that regard no one else, not even Gretzky, is even close to him.

[@angushiltz4880]

How about a player who was top 5 in scoring for 20 consecutive years?

[@patch8376]

Howe was also a very consistent top flight point scorer and a long-time elite goal scorer. I think Total Hockey still likes his 49 goal season, relative to scoring league-wide, as technically the best ever even era-adjusted.

[@warrenbanks5201]

I was about to comment Ovechkin will get his record breaking goal against the Canucks and you beat me to it! :) Happy Holidays

[@tallmantoo]

Honestly I think his team choice is Winnipeg Jets.

[@vitoafrodi8929]

I hope it's against the Pens. I really do. I kinda want Crosby to be the first player to congratulate him. Would be a nice ending to their era.

[@jeremygilbert7190]

He needs 93 to pass Gretzky... interestingly, he has scored 93+ goals in 2021 and 2022! (96, in fact.) When he scored #709 - 93 goals ago - he did so against the Rangers on Feb 4, 2021, which sure doesn't seem that long ago. That goal was the one that moved him to #7 all-time, passing Mike Gartner.

[@shanielcabral]

Him scoring goals again in the screaming eagle jersey is too good

[@aguardente6531]

I'm kinda late for that conversation but still want to discuss the topic that Ovi "lost" a lot of goals because of lockouts and covid and all that stuff. You can look at it differently. 19-year-old Ovechkin arrives in the NHL in 2004-05 without a whole year with Datsyuk, Markov, Afinogenov, Chubarov and Rosa and a championship with Dynamo in Russia, which definitely taught him something. He also arrives after a disastrous World Cup for russian national team and relegation in the first round of the Russia's Super League play-offs with Dynamo (0 + 0 in 3 matches). Let's imagine there was no lockout (and, let's say, it is not even expected), so the NHL is still a league where New Jersey and Tampa Bay defensive hockey wins, where goaltending equipment has not yet been reduced by 11 percent, where there is a pass rule through two lines. League scoring average of 2.57 goals per game, 2-1 score is fabulous luck; in the 05-06 season, the performance was already over 3 goals per game. This is also the league of Kasparaitis, Darian Hatchers and Scott Stevens, who had a rest after an injury (he retired in the summer of 2005). Old guys like Renick, Nolan, Amonte and others are in fashion, not high speed freight trains like Ovi. This is the league where Ovechkin will not have an advantage over 80% of the players, because he did not miss the whole season due to the lockout, he calmly trained and played at home and was prepared. This is the league where Atlantas 2001 draft #1 Kovalchuk scored 29 goals in his rookie season, 2002 draft #1 Rick Nash under 20 for Columbus, and Eric Staal only 11 goals. Kovalchuk and Iginla, who split Maurice Richard Trophy in 2003-04, each scored 41 goals. And Ovechkin, who scored only against the Denmark at the 2004 World Cup, will still score 40? Come on! Lockout 12-13 is generally the best thing that could happen to Ovechkin. The 2010-11 and 11-12 seasons are very average for him - in terms of points, the 11-12 season is generally the weakest. He loses games, he is scolded, he is angry, and the decline is obvious. And here in the NHL there is a pause for six months, he spends it in his hometown, there is no stress, he enjoys hockey, and upon his return he has a Hart, several Richard Trophies and several fifty-goals seasons in a row. Yes, he did not score 10-12 goals that season, but how many later he acquired after such holidays. The same with the covid pause. Yes, Ovi was fine then, but at the age of 36 to get the opportunity to be with his family, relax and completely recover from injuries is not as bad as it seems. TLDR: Ovechkin lost a certain number of games, but whether he lost a certain number of goals because of this is a question. Well, English is not my native but i hope you understand what I'm saying.

[@robbybains1622]

Gretzky goal that passed Howe was also against the Canucks.

[@Cheezzy0]

His detractors never seem to mention that, due to work stoppages and a global pandemic, that he's lost the better part of 2 seasons of his career to things out of his control. Had he played those lost games, he'd be within a season of passing Gretzky, if not already top of the list. We could have been talking about the likelihood of him hitting 1000 or even 1100 goals by 2026.

[@angushiltz4880]

And the lockout seasons of 92/93 and 94/95 ? Gretzky lost games too.

[@Cheezzy0]

@@angushiltz4880 91-92 (not 92-93) was a strike by the NHLPA that lasted 10 days. No games were lost, and in fact the next 2 seasons were extended from 80 games to 84 games. The lockout in 94-95 reduced the schedule to 48 games, a loss of 24 per team. 24, minus the 8 added to 92-93 and 93-94 means Gretzky lost a total of 16 games, nowhere near what Ovi has lost. What else you got?

[@angushiltz4880]

@@Cheezzy0 sorry you're right 91/92. You'll have to forgive me I'm old and the mind isn't what it once was. But it doesn't change the fact Gretzky missed games too. I actually do think Ovi is a better goal scorer than Gretzky. But I'm just sick of hearing people talk about the missed seasons for Ovi. Ovi is going to break the record but it doesn't make sense to me to think about the missed games. Because who's to say that if Ovi didn't miss those seasons that something horrible happened. Everyone saying imagine if he didn't loose those games how many goals he'd have now. Well imagine if he didn't miss those games and he had a career ending injury? The fact is that's all in the past and has nothing to do with what he is doing now.

[@JoMaisBure10]

Glad to see Ovi getting closer to Gretzky’s record. Gretzky fanboys have been coming out of the woodwork big time in the last few months to discredit ovechkin in every way. Looking forward to their continued salt and crying in when Ovi scores goal 895

[@paulschmitz9175]

Agreed.

[@GreekboyyD]

They really have. Now at 852.

[@GreekboyyD]

Gretzky Glazers….they walk among us.

[@leftcoaster67]

Shannon knows the Canucks all too well. Merry Christmas Shannon and to your family, cats, bunnies, who knows Reindeer next?

[@mrhonda1]

You can tell he didn't want to do it on an empty net. It seemed like he put it in out of obligation. He's a passionate goal scorer and there wasn't any passion in that one. He tried to pass it off and not get the goal.

[@mloftus8618]

I know you briefly touched on it here, but just imagine where his goal count would be had he not missed so many games/seasons due to lockout and covid. He would be almost there currently. Having a .611 GPG average over 17 years/1300+ games is just amazing.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

Thanks. Most stat watchers can do the math.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

Imagine if the NHL stood against supporters of genocide and actually banned this freak from playing in their league until he condemns his favorite presidents attempted genocide of the Ukrainians. Now *that* is what would be amazing.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

@@Naskinlahtaaja He shouldn't have to do that.

[@Naskinlahtaaja]

​@@peterolbrisch8970 well articulated point.

[@mloftus8618]

@@Naskinlahtaaja - lol. Same sad story from a salty troll. What evidence do you have to back up your stupid claims?

[@sharkbaitminecraft]

Shannonnnnnnn merry Christmas

[@ducksauce1290]

All you have to do is watch his top ten goals.

[@ChrisCardenDrums]

Love your videos, my dude. It's amazing to me that at his age he's a plug and play 50ish goal guy. Like you mentioned, the question isn't if, but when. And then the tangent question is does he score 895 and scoot off to Russia

[@Acrr01]

He's gonna hit 1000 before he's done

[@jonmendelson1104]

0:49 "It's fllled with signing bonuses so that means in the event of something crazy going on it's not a contract that gets bought out." It's also a 35+ contract, so a buyout has no effect whatsoever on the cap hit. Edit: If he agrees to be buried in the AHL they can get $100k of savings, otherwise the only "cap savings" they can get before the end of his contract, even if he retires, is if he ends up on permanent LTIR.

[@Nikkerman]

I don't even think it's a question of if he breaks gretzkys record now, I think it's a question now if he goes for 900 or even 1000 now

[@johnfarr2738]

Catching Gretsky record is completely doable within the next 2 years. But for those saying 1,000 goals that might be pushing it a bit

[@justinrogers1807]

Not that Thompson is even close to the same player but he has made that left circle his home for the Sabres the last 2 seasons and no one can stop him there either

[@rhain2046]

The only scenarios under which Ovi doesn't pass Gretzky is if he either retires first, or gets injured bad enough.

[@sergeboutin4209]

Maybe a career-ending injury, but he will never retire without the record, any normal man wouldn’t, but is he ?

[@KingOrest]

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays! All the best to you and your family!

[@RickinBaltimore]

Russian Machine just doesn't break. Ovi might be the best pure goal scorer I ever saw.

[@paulschmitz9175]

Might...?

[@kjells3578]

I wouldn't cry if the caps kept using that jersey forever

[@schuug]

Worth mentioning that both Ovi and Matthews have higher goals-per-game than Gretzky right now, as long as they keep on that pace and dont miss games it's doable

[@GreekboyyD]

Crazy part is that Ovechkin has scored 1 more goal than Matthews since he entered the league. Sure Matthews has played less games but that just illustrates how hard it is to stay healthy over a long career. The fact that Ovechkin from his age 31-37 seasons has scored one more goal than Matthews has is truly insane.

[@jesse.ruxspin]

Awsum video shanno luv the video merry Xmas

[@markhodge7]

Barring a Tiger Woods type injury that prevented him from getting the most Majors, Alex should just catch Wayne and put a little more distance to the new record. 920?

[@jessiegandhi4340]

He breaking that record vs the Jets! The team hes scored the most goals against

[@FrankD23]

Darn it hockey guy... can't you just enjoy your Christmas. No videos tomorrow please..

[@TheManny717]

It is all about the grind, and we love him for that.

[@Fatazz]

Don't worry. Anything he posts tomorrow will already be done today. I hope.

[@thelovefromupabove7347]

He makes videos on holidays to help keep it normal for those folks who don't necessarily have a big reason to celebrate. I appreciate it.

[@FrankD23]

@@thelovefromupabove7347 It's not about us.. it's about him...

[@Lamey01]

Shannon can do what ever he wants. Support the content!

[@mikebennett146]

Yes!! And I've been saying it for 3+ years now, Ovechkin will not only pass Gretzky in all time goals, I believe he will also be the ONLY NHL player ever to score 900+ goals. He hasn't missed a beat in 18 seasons/800+ goals and there's nothing to indicate the next 100 will be any different. It's a relatively small drop in the bucket left to go for him. If he stays healthy/major injury free he passes Gretzky. He scores a lot of his goals in clusters, can sometimes go several games without, then go several games with even with multi goal games

[@gymrat2647]

Like watching Ovi even though I am a Knights fan. Ovi for the hall of fame

[@WallaceScores]

Ovechkin will be the only player in the 900 Goal Club

[@GreekboyyD]

40 left to go

[@iliaponomarev1624]

Ovechkin, if nothing very bad happens, has roughly about 270 games to play with his current contract. And about 90 goals to score in his chase. So, even 1 goal in 3 games on average would do the trick. And 2 goals in 3 games on average will almost bring him to 1000 goals.

[@sukhpreetsingh4488]

I truly feel ovi passes it when against the canucks. Planning to go to that game in 2024-2025

[@lessthansion]

One thing that goes unoticed about Ovi is if he will probably end his career #1 hits all time, #1 shots all time, and Top 10 in points all time. All that and missed so many games to lockouts and COVID. he would probably be around 900 at this point and we would be talking about him getting 1000 goals

[@williamfryman4360]

I’ll take Ovie over Crosby. Crosby isn’t in the top 10 of any NHL statistical category. Ovie is number 2 in Goals. He’s also a nicer guy (from personal experience)

[@tonyp9313]

Lets say he scores 50+ goals this Season. That would mean 830 goals total maybe he passes that a bit if he gets more than 50. So that would mean next Season he would have to score 64 Goals. Lets say he scores 57 goals this year or maybe a bit more. He could score 57 again next Season & possibly tie Gretzky's record by next Season. I don't think this guy is slowing down at all.

[@cary3517]

2 shortened seasons but he will still do it

[@joedimaggio3687]

You still think that?

[@92OnTV]

@@joedimaggio3687 43 to go

[@GreekboyyD]

People really need to do the math. If we give him 20 more goals for the rest of this season that takes him to 822. All he has to do is average 24 goals over the last three seasons of his contract to hit 894. He is a lock to do that. Only thing that can stop him at this point is injury. Nothing else will stop him.

[@CP-rh7fx]

50 goals in 50 games is a rate of 1.000. OV’s best is .793 - BUST!😊

[@jeremystewart9074]

With all of the injuries that the Caps have had this year, 22 goals in 36 games really isn't too shabby.

[@bartsanders1553]

If not for the strikes, Ovi might have had to do it in the bubble.

[@HappyHalBallard]

I think if OV keeps his conditioning regimen and barring serious injury, he could play till he's 44-5, realistically his scoring pace will likely drop around age 40, but to me 1,000 goals is a distinct possibility. As for 99's record, Shannon's right, just a matter of when.

[@JayLewisNYR1994]

I guess you don’t watch many Rangers games. First NHL goal, first NHL game, First NHL point. 10 game goalless and or pointless slump., first NHL shutout etc They will score and get the shutout vs the Rangers. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

[@Itzpork]

Merry Christmas Shannon!

[@bobroberts2067]

Baring the unforeseen...he passes Gretzky too, maybe late next season or if not then early the season after at either 38 or 39.

[@BPhillips2000]

Unless there is some sort of impedance to Ovi playing at least half of the 292 remaining NHL games on his current contract, he's passing Gretzky (at his current rate of scoring + the average # of games he plays each season, he'll have somewhere around 970(-ish) NHL goals by the summer of 2026...)

[@EvanEscher]

I wish playoff goals counted towards a player's career totals. Gretzky would have over 1000 goals, and Ovi would be close to 900 right now.

[@TheRabidfan]

I just saw him put a young buck over the boards. He's not slowing down.

[@boomshocks]

The final and toughest stretch.

[@GreekboyyD]

43 goals to go.

[@windwalker5765]

Here's the thing, Shannon. Ovi might slow down... but at this point, he _can_ slow down and _still_ pass Gretzky. He got 50 last year, let's say he gets 45 this year, getting to 825 total. At that point, he can get 30, 25, and 15 in his last three seasons and hit the mark.

[@GreekboyyD]

43 left

[@GreekboyyD]

35 to go