Alexander Ovechkin is on the verge of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL goal record, and he could shockingly do it in less games too. Alex <a href='https://www.cp24.com/news/sports/2025/01/05/ovechkin-is-feeling-better-every-game-as-he-moves-closer-to-breaking-gretzkys-nhl-goals-record/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Ovechkin inched closer to making NHL history Saturday</a>, scoring his 872nd career goal against the New York Rangers. The Capitals captain now has four goals in five games since returning from a fractured leg. With this recent surge, Alex Ovechkin is well on his way to <a href='https://records.nhl.com/records/skater-records/goals/most-goals-career' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894 goals</a>, and he may get there faster than The Great One did. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/CapitalsPR/status/1875640921133654228'> </a></blockquote></div> Ovechkin's 19 goals in 23 games this season put him on a blistering pace of 0.826 goals per game. If he can keep that pace, he could tie Wayne Gretzky's record in his 1,476th career game, three games fewer than it took for Gretzky to hit 894. Gretzky, who played 1,487 NHL games, scored his final goal on March 29, 1999, and failed to score in his last eight outings. Asked about topping Gretzky's pace, Ovechkin laughed, seeming to be caught off guard by the notion. That pace would put him on track to tie Gretzky in Los Angeles on March 13 and break the record in San Jose on March 15. For the record, Gretzky took the NHL goal lead in a Kings uniform, passing Gordie Howe on March 23, 1994. Despite missing 16 games due to injury, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/capitals/player/alex-ovechkin-8471214' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Ovechkin</a> has shown little rust since returning after the holiday break. He's scored at a rate of 0.8 goals per game since his return, just below his season average, but still ahead of Gretzky's pace. Even Ovechkin's teammates are awestruck by the run he has been on. Connor McMichael, who grew up idolizing him, says it is surreal to watch Ovechkin keep up this level. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/capsreplays/status/1875630487802413119'> </a></blockquote></div> <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/washington-capitals/wayne-gretzky-private-texts-to-alex-ovechkin-revealed-as-he-closes-in-on-record' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Gretzky has been openly supportive of Ovechkin's pursuit</a> and will make the trip to follow the Capitals as the record approaches. «He's human,» Gretzky said of Ovechkin last month. «He'll get a little bit nervous near the end, but he's been nothing but positive for our sport and that's most important, and he's been great for the Washington Capitals.» The next opportunity for Ovechkin to continue moving his total comes <a href='https://insidetherink.com/nhl-game-preview-washington-capitals-at-buffalo-sabres-with-line-combinations-1-6-2025/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Monday when Washington visits the Buffalo Sabres</a>.