Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin has 868 goals after scoring 15 in the first 18 games this season. He needs 27 to set a new record.
Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. Ovechkin could resume his pursuit as soon as Saturday night at Toronto in the Capitals' first game out of the Christmas break.
Ovechkin scored twice in a 6-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 18, getting goals 867 and 868 in his first game in Salt Lake City before leaving in the third period.
Ovechkin seems on track to play Saturday at the Maple Leafs. He has scored 44 goals against them during his career, tied for the fifth-most among all opponents.
If not Saturday, the Capitals visit Detroit on Sunday and host Boston on Tuesday in a New Year's Eve matinee.
Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals with 316 and shots on goal with 6,690.
He also has 132 game-winning goals, four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's mark (135).
Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr.
Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).
Ovechkin earlier this season 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.
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 all time 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 1,444 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.
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FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
MILAN (AP) — French standout Cyprien Sarrazin remained under sedation on Saturday after undergoing a successful operation on a head injury sustained in a brutal crash the previous day during training for a World Cup downhill race in Bormio.
Sarrazin, who won the downhill on Bormio’s fearsome Stelvio course last year, was one of two skiers airlifted to hospital after crashing on Friday on the slope set to be used for the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 14 months.
He later underwent surgery to drain a bleed near the brain.
“Cyprien Sarrazin was operated on yesterday night to decompress the intracranial hematoma,” the French ski federation said in a statement.
“The operation went well, he remains under anesthesia for the moment. We will communicate more information during the day.”
Sarrazin, who was fastest in the first training session the previous day, was on course for another good time in Friday’s second run when he appeared to hit a bump and lost control as he was catapulted into the air, bouncing twice on the snow and sliding a long way down before being brought to a halt by the safety netting on the side.
The 30-year-old received immediate treatment before being taken by helicopter to a hospital in Sondalo, about 20 kilometers from Bormio.
Sarrazin enjoyed his best campaign on the World Cup circuit last season with four victories — three downhill and one super-G — but has yet to win in 2024-25.
Italian skier Pietro Zazzi of Italy was also airlifted to Sondalo hospital following a crash and was set to undergo surgery in Milan on Saturday after fracturing the tibia and fibula of his right leg.
The downhill is scheduled for Saturday, with a super-G also on the Stelvio the following day.
The men’s Alpine skiing events at the 2026 Olympics will take place in Bormio, while the women’s will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The two ski areas are separated by a five-hour car ride.
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Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
France's Cyprien Sarrazin is airborn during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
France's Cyprien Sarrazin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Medical staff are carrying France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Medical staff are lifting France's Cyprien Sarrazin to an helicopter after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
