Ovechkin Passes Gordie Howe for Second on the NHL's All-Time Goals List

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 21st and 22nd goals of the season and the 802nd of his career Friday against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena, passing Gordie Howe (801) for second place on the NHL's all-time goals list. Ovechkin now only trails Wayne Gretzky (894) for the most goals in NHL history. On Dec. 13 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin recorded his 29th career hat trick to become the third player in NHL history to reach the 800-goal mark.

Ovechkin scored his 802nd goal in his 1,310th career game, passing Howe (1,767 GP) on the all-time goals list in 457 fewer games played. Ovechkin has averaged 0.61 goals-per-game during his 18-year career, the seventh-highest rate in NHL history among players with at least 200 goals. Howe averaged 0.45 goals-per-game during his career, while Gretzky averaged 0.60. Since turning 35-years-old on Sept. 17, 2020, Ovechkin has maintained his career goals per game average, scoring 96 goals in 158 games played (0.61 G/GP). That marks the highest rate among players following their 35th birthday in NHL history.
Earlier this season, Ovechkin passed Howe on two other all-time lists. Ovechkin scored his 787th career goal on Nov. 5 versus Arizona, passing Howe (786 goals with Detroit) for the most goals with one franchise in NHL history and scored his 122nd career game-winning goal on Oct. 24 at New Jersey to pass Howe for the second-most game-winning goals.
In NHL history, Ovechkin ranks first in power-play goals (292), overtime goals (25), road goals (409), game-opening goals (137), game-tying goals (140) and go-ahead goals (271), second in game-winning goals (124), empty-net goals (54) and multi-goal games (163), and fourth in even strength goals (505).
Ovechkin was selected by the Capitals in the first round, first overall, in the 2004 NHL Draft. The Moscow native has registered 1,451 points (802g, 649a) in 1,310 career games with Washington. Ovechkin is the Capitals' franchise leader in games played, goals, points, playoff games played (147), playoff goals (72) and playoff points (141).
Since entering the NHL at the beginning of the 2005-06 season, Ovechkin leads the NHL in goals (802) and ranks second in points (1,451) and games played (1,310). Since 2005-06, he holds a 266-goal lead over the next closest player.
In his career, Ovechkin has won a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Calder Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, three Hart Memorial Trophies, three Ted Lindsay Awards and nine Maurice Richard Trophies. He is the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe, a Calder, an Art Ross, a Hart, a Ted Lindsay and a Maurice Richard Trophy.