Ovechkin on track to break Gretzky's record

TORONTO — Alex Ovechkin's record chase is back on.

His empty-net goal for the Washington Capitals in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs wasn't the most challenging goal among the 869 he's scored in the NHL, but it was significant given his return from a 16-game hiatus due to injury.

"Every goal is hard to score in this league, so, if you want to try, put on skates and go six on five," Ovechkin quipped after the game.

Washington's captain moved closer to Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 career goals. Ovechkin was 25 back with 46 games remaining in the regular season.

Ovechkin played his first game since fracturing his left fibula on Nov 18 in a game against the Utah Hockey Club.

The 39-year-old said it didn't take long for him to get back into his rhythm.

"I tried to feel how I felt with the puck, mentally, physically. And, as soon as the first shift ended, I was feeling like: 'OK, now I can play,'" he said.

Ovechkin wasn't quite firing on all cylinders, however. He was held off the scoresheet until late in the third period, when he scored his empty-net goal on a breakaway.

He had three hits and three shots on goal in 14 minutes, 58 seconds of ice time.

But, the atmosphere surrounding the Russian superstar picked up right where it left off before his injury, said Capitals forward Tom Wilson.

"I'm sure you guys are excited. We're excited when he's walking out to the ice. People are climbing on top of each other to get videos of him. He's taking the hockey world on a crazy ride right now, and it's rock star stuff," Wilson said.

"He's the man, and we love him in here. He was flying for that goal. Nice to see him get back on track here."

Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said Toronto's game plan didn't change when Ovechkin's return was confirmed by Capitals counterpart Spencer Carbery earlier in the day.

"When he's playing, we've got to do a good job on him, and I thought we did tonight for the most part," Berube said.

Ovechkin enjoyed a resurgent start to his season with a league-leading 15 goals in 18 games before the injury occurred.

He moved into a tie with center teammate Connor McMichael with 16 goals.

His quest to catch Gretzky continued on Sunday in Detroit against the Red Wings.

Ovechkin said he was interested to see how his body would respond to two games in 24 hours.

"I have to find a rhythm, feel the game and try to do the little things," he said.

"Practice is one thing. In a game, it happens so quick, so you have to be ready for that."

The Capitals thrived in Ovechkin's absence going 10-5-1.

Despite predictions of both Ovechkin's and the Capitals' downfall this season, Carbery has navigated the club to a 24-9-2 record, just a point behind the New Jersey Devils atop the Metropolitan Division.

If Ovechkin regains his pre-injury pace, the Capitals can be a formidable opponent in the second half of the season and into the playoffs.

Ovechkin was content Saturday just to get back on the ice — and grab another goal while he was at it.

"It's nice to be back on the board," he said.

Spectacular stats

Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals with 316 and shots on goal with 6,693.

He also has 132 game-winning goals, four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's mark (135).

Ovechkin has scored past 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr.

Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).

Earlier this season, Ovechkin became the 60th player to record 700 career assists and is now at 707.

He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.

Leading scorers

Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No 802 on Dec 23, 2022, to move into second behind Gretzky (894).

Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe.

He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.

Ovechkin has played in 1,445 total games so far.

Gretzky holds 55 NHL records, and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.

Agencies Via Xinhua