Alex Ovechkin snapped a 9-game goalless drought on Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils. The tally, his 15th of the 2025-26 season, tied the game 3-3. The Washington Capitals eventually proved victorious in overtime via a clutch marker from Jakob Chychrun.
By scoring his 15th goal in his 38th game of the campaign, Ovechkin became the fifth-fastest player aged 40-or-older to score 15 goals in an NHL season. He also moved past Steve Yzerman (14) for the 11th-most goals scored in an age-40 season.
Fastest players 40-or-older to score 15 goals in a single season
| Player | Age | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe (1968-69) | 40 | 28 |
| Johnny Bucyk (1975-76) | 40 | 34 |
| Jaromir Jagr (2012-13) | 40 | 35 |
| Gordie Howe (1970-71) | 42 | 36 |
| Alex Ovechkin (2025-26) | 40 | 38 |
| Dean Prentice (1972-73) | 40 | 39 |
| Jaromir Jagr (2015-16) | 43 | 39 |
Ovechkin scored his 14th goal in just his 28th game of this season, but then the 9-game goalless streak, tied for the third longest in his career, forced him further down the list. However, Ovechkin is still on pace for 32 goals this year, which would place him third among age-40 seasons, behind just Gordie Howe (44) and Johnny Bucyk (36).
Among the names on the quickest to score 15 goals list, only Howe during the 1968-69 season and Bucyk during the 1975-76 season finished their years with 30 or more goals. With a 30-goal season, Ovechkin would become just the fourth player in league history aged 40-or-older to do so, joining Howe (44 and 31), Bucyk (36), and Teemu Selanne (31).
Earlier this season, Ovechkin became the sixth-oldest player in NHL history to score a hat trick. He also became the 11th player to ever record 1,800 points in the regular season and playoffs combined.
After registering two points (1g, 1a) against the Devils, Ovechkin has 33 points (15g, 18a) in 38 games this season. He ranks second on the team in scoring, one point behind Tom Wilson.
