Alex Ovechkin has reached yet another milestone that many thought was impossible to reach. Today, the Washington Capitals captain became just the second player in NHL history to record 1,000 career goals when combining the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Joining The Great One
The historic moment came in the third period of Sunday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. With the Capitals on a power play and trailing late, Ovechkin set up in his “office” at the left faceoff circle and hammered his trademark one-timer past Mackenzie Blackwood. The goal not only tied the game at two but officially moved Ovechkin into the four-digit club alongside Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin reached 1,000 goals with a combined total of 923 regular-season goals and 77 in the postseason. For context on how rare this is, the next closest player on the combined list is Gordie Howe, who finished his career with 869 total goals. Now, Ovechkin is just 16 goals shy of Gretzky’s combined record of 1,016.
The Road to 1,000 Goals
What makes this achievement so staggering is the consistency Ovechkin has shown even as he turned 40 this past September. His goal against the Avalanche was his 26th of the 2025-26 season, and he continues to lead the Capitals’ offense while they fight for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The primary assists on the historic goal went to Dylan Strome and rookie Cole Hutson, who recorded his first career NHL assist on the play. While the Capitals eventually fell 3-2 in overtime, the night belonged to Ovechkint. The fans at Capital One Arena gave him a massive standing ovation, a fitting tribute to a player who has already broken Gretzky’s regular-season record and is now chasing down Gretzky for the most combined goals in NHL history.
What’s Next for Ovechkin & the Capitals?
Now that Ovechkin has hit 1,000 combined career goals. His and the team’s focus shifts to the final stretch of the 2025-26 season. They sit just five points out of a playoff spot and with just 12 games remaining, the pressure is on. If the Capitals want to push for the final wild card spot, they will need Ovechkin to go on a hot streak. And, with his goal last tonight against the Avalanche, it could set him on the path to a great finish to the end of the season.