Alex Ovechkin is on pace to own most of the NHL’s goals records, both major and nuanced, by the time he hangs up his skates.
One of Ovi’s latest accomplishments came on March 15, when he scored his 887th career goal against the San Jose Sharks’ Georgi Romanov. The tally marked Ovechkin’s 158th career goal in the month of March — the most ever in NHL history.
Ovechkin passed — who else? — Wayne Gretzky, who scored 157 December goals during his 20-year career in the NHL. Ovi has since added another goal to extend his most goals in a single month record to 159 after scoring career goal number 888 against the Flyers on Thursday.
Per NHL Stats, only three different players have scored 140 or more regular-season goals in a calendar month — Ovechkin, Gretzky, and Gordie Howe — and they did so 11 different times.
Most regular-season goals in a single month in NHL history
| Player | Month | Seasons | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | March | 2005-2025 | 269 | 159 |
| Wayne Gretzky | December | 1979-1999 | 233 | 157 |
| Wayne Gretzky | November | 1979-1999 | 236 | 154 |
| Gordie Howe | January | 1946-1980 | 316 | 154 |
| Wayne Gretzky | January | 1979-1999 | 249 | 152 |
| Gordie Howe | February | 1946-1980 | 303 | 151 |
| Wayne Gretzky | March | 1979-1999 | 260 | 144 |
| Alex Ovechkin | January | 2005-2025 | 232 | 141 |
| Alex Ovechkin | November | 2005-2025 | 238 | 141 |
| Gordie Howe | March | 1946-1980 | 289 | 141 |
| Gordie Howe | December | 1946-1980 | 327 | 141 |
The three greatest months of Ovechkin’s career are March (159), January (141), and November (141).
Alex Ovechkin goals by month
| Month | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| March | 269 | 159 |
| January | 232 | 141 |
| November | 238 | 141 |
| December | 228 | 130 |
| October | 183 | 124 |
| February | 215 | 122 |
| April | 112 | 71 |
All stats are of Friday, March 21.
While Ovechkin’s 159 March goals now own the record for total goals in a calendar month over the course of his career, Ovechkin is not in the top 25 for the most goals in one month of games. Teemu Selanne (March 1993) and Joe Malone (February 1921) own that record with 20.
Ovi’s 888th career goal also marked his 35th goal of the 2024-25 campaign, giving him his fifteenth 35-goal season. Ovechkin passed former Capitals forward Mike Gartner to break the previous NHL record of 14.
