Alex Ovechkin GR8 Chase Primer For Capitals vs. Flyers: Tracking Stats & Latest Odds
Alex Ovechkin continues his GR8 Chase against the Flyers. (Geoff Burke — Imagn Images)WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals are back on home ice as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers, and at the same time, and as they look to punch their ticket to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Alex Ovechkin also aims to add to his "GR8 Chase."
Ovechkin enters Thursday's contest just seven goals away from tying and eight goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record of 894.
The 39-year-old last scored in Saturday's 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on a redirect from Martin Fehervary. He has two goals and seven points in his last five games overall.
Ovechkin has appeared in 77 games against Philly over his 20-year career, scoring a total of 51 goals and 82 points. His 51 goals against the Flyers are tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning the second-most he has against a single franchise. He has the most all-time against the Winnipeg Jets.
Samuel Ersson will get the start for Philly. In four appearances against Ersson, Ovechkin has two goals. He has scored once against Ivan Fedotov, who will back up, in just two games facing him.
Right now, he is on pace to break the record on April 13 against the Columbus Blue Jackets at home. He has the fifth-most goals in the NHL right now (34) despite breaking his leg and has kept up an impressive pace.
The odds are highest, though, that he will break the record in the team's regular-season finale on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins at -250, or an implied probability at 71 percent. There's also +1000 odds, or an implied probability of 9.10 percent,t hat he reaches 900 goals this season.
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena.