Alex Ovechkin scores 887th goal to move within 8 of breaking Wayne Gretzky's record

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin shook off a rough start to this three-game California swing by scoring his 887th career goal Saturday against the San Jose Sharks to move within eight of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record.

Ovechkin had failed to score a goal in the first two games of the trip and had no shots on goal in a loss at Los Angeles on Thursday night. He came up empty on his first three shots and couldn’t generate any prime chances on three power plays before scoring late against the Sharks in a 5-1 victory.

“Hopefully that helps him,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “You could feel he was gripping it a little bit. Power play, he’s been struggling. He hasn’t been getting as many quality looks with his line. ... For him to get that goal, hopefully that’s a good boost for him and grabs him some momentum heading back home and feeling good about his game going into our home games this week.”

Ovechkin deflected a shot from Martin Fehervary past Georgi Romanov with 9:06 remaining in the third period.

The goal led to loud cheers from the sellout crowd that featured many fans who came hoping to see Ovechkin score with chants of “Ovi! Ovi!" filling the building.

“It’s great,” Ovechkin said. “Lots of people are now watching and lots of attention. It’s a great feeling.”

Romanov is the NHL-record 182nd goalie that Ovechkin has scored on out of the 217 goaltenders he has faced in his 20-year career.

The goal made sure Ovechkin didn't match his longest goal drought of the season, having also gone without one in the first three games and then again in early January.

He scored 14 goals in the next 22 games following that stretch to move closer to Gretzky's mark of 894 that long seemed unapproachable before the end of this season.

He now has 15 games remaining to break the record this season, starting with a three-game homestand next week.

Ovechkin did have three assists in the opener of the trip at Anaheim and assisted on Dylan Strome's goal to open the scoring in the win over the Sharks.

“He’s been passing to me too much,” Strome joked. “We got to get him the puck more. He’s doing all the little things right. Nice for (Fehervary) to find him in the slot there. You could just see the crowd. Not much left to say at this point. Hopefully he can get a couple on this homestand here and inch closer and closer. We’re all excited obviously. It’s pretty cool.”

Ovechkin's goal came a few minutes after Trevor van Riemsdyk had given Washington a 4-1 lead when he scored to end a 145-game goal drought dating more than two years to March 9, 2023.

“I definitely understand how hard it is to score. To see O keep doing this every night it seems like, he's right there,” van Riemsdyk said.

“It’s pretty cool. I think everyone understands how amazing this truly is. The quality of these goaltenders nowadays, how hard it is to score in this league. Every year people start doubting him, 'Is this the year he’ll fall off?' They’re going to have to keep waiting."

The 39-year-old Russian star has 34 goals on the season, giving him at least 30 in a record 19 of his 20 seasons. He only fell short in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season when he scored 24 goals in a 56-game season.

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin waits for a face off during the second period against the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots at the goal against San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) congratulates goaltender Logan Thompson (48) after a victory over the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, right, celebrates with Martin Fehervary (42) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) sits on the rail during a timeout against the San Jose Sharks in the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) passes the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin dives for the puck during the second period against the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

LONDON (AP) — Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Merino's first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium and saw second-placed Arsenal move within 12 points of leader Liverpool.

In another all-London clash, Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0.

Arsenal's title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but it closed the gap on Liverpool, which was playing Newcastle in the English League Cup final later in the day.

“The only thing we can do is try to win our matches. If we do, we are in a better position,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard's near post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was enough to secure a first league win for Arsenal since Feb. 15.

Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means it missed the chance to extend its one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost its chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Arsenal, on 58 points, is 10 clear of four time defending champion City.

Another setback for Tottenham is likely to increase the pressure on coach Ange Postecoglou heading into the international break.

Spurs, in 14th, have only won one of their last five in all competitions and this was a 15th league defeat of the season.

“It’s been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games," Postecoglou said. “It’s another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we’re ready for when we come back.”

Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham the lead in the 78th at Craven Cottage and Ryan Sessegnon doubled the home team's lead 10 minutes later.

Fulham is eighth and four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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Tottenham Hotspur's manager Ange Postecoglou during the English Premier League soccer match between FC Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, bottom, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with Rodrigo Muniz during the English Premier League soccer match between FC Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez fails to save the goal from Arsenal's Mikel Merino, second left, during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta applauds supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's Mikel Merino, centre, greets supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)