Ovechkin is 27 goals away from breaking Gretzky's record of 894.
After missing over a month with a broken leg, Alex Ovechkin's chase for Wayne Gretzky's goal record resumes Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed the news following the team's morning skate inside Scotiabank Arena. "Him being on the ice — whether it's power play, a faceoff, five-on-five — at any moment, everybody in the building, along with our 19 other players, believe that he can score," the head coach added.
It'll be Ovechkin's first game back in the lineup since Nov. 18 and the Maple Leafs are preparing for all the problems the goalscorer brings as an opponent. The 39-year-old is 27 goals away from breaking Gretzky's goal record of 894.
"Just the size and strength of him, and I guess, his mindset game in and game out. I always found him, he always seems like in a good mood out there and enjoying the game. You know, that's watching him from afar. Like, whether I'm coaching or just watching him, he really loves the game and loves to score goals," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Saturday morning.
"And he can score goals in a lot of different ways. I mean, you could be right on him and he gets a stick on that puck, it could go in. He's obviously one of the best goal scorers of all time. We all know that. We've got to be on him. We've got to be tight to him."
Ovechkin has 15 goals in 18 games this season. He's scored 44 goals in 60 games against Toronto in his NHL career. Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev has faced Ovechkin plenty of times over his career and understands the challenge when he's in the lineup.
"Yeah, I mean, obviously, the second-best shooter ever right now and potentially in the future will have the most goals," Tanev said. "So, obviously, you don't want to give him shots and give him opportunity in the scoring area. So, I mean, it takes all five guys to help out and have good sticks and know where he is all the time on the ice."
Does the defenseman, who's blocked 1702 shots over his career, think Ovechkin's shots hurt a little more than the rest?
"They all hurt," he smiled.
Rasmus Sandin was drafted by the Maple Leafs and played 140 games with Toronto before being traded to the Capitals during the 2022-23 season. He's been teammates with two of the NHL's most dominant goalscorers of this generation, Ovechkin and Auston Matthews.
He says both players are similar — and different — in how they play on the ice.
"Both of them are good at just getting their shots through. They're good at not shooting on the defenseman's stick or body or whatever. But they're really good at getting their pucks through," said Sandin.
"I think back in the days, they score some goals that are pretty similar. And now, I mean, obviously, they might score in some different ways. They're a little bit of different players, but there's definitely some similarities with their shots for sure."
Sandin also mentioned what it's like to be on the same team as Ovechkin while he's attempting to break the NHL's goalscoring record.
"It's definitely special. I mean, I've been fortunate enough to play with some legends in this game and he's obviously one of them," the defenseman said. "One of the guys I've been looking up to since I was a kid. It's a lot of fun being a part of that chase for sure."
The Capitals fell to the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime earlier this season and are coming into Scotiabank Arena with vengeance on their mind. With Ovechkin back, plus a well-rested lineup that hasn't played since Dec. 23, it'll be a difficult night for Toronto.
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