Alex Ovechkin remains red-hot after returning from his 16 games on the shelf with a broken leg. The 39-year-old winger notched two points (1g, 1a) against the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon and claimed more NHL history in the process.
With his assist on Tom Wilson’s empty-net goal, Ovechkin recorded his 1,580th career point. The helper pushed him past Ray Bourque (1,579) into sole possession of 12th on the league’s all-time points list.
Every moment with this guy is history right now
The #Gr8 now sits at 12th all-time in scoring#ALLCAPS | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/SeoykCWlS6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 4, 2025
After Pierre-Luc Dubois won a board battle in Washington’s zone, Ovechkin poked the puck into the neutral zone to Wilson. Wilson skated the Capitals’ seventh goal of the game into the yawning cage.
The assist was the 708th of Ovechkin’s career after he scored his 872nd career goal earlier in the third period. Next on the all-time list to chase is Phil Esposito (1,590), who sits 10 points ahead of Ovechkin.
All-time points
| Player | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Gretzky | 894 | 1,963 | 2,857 |
| Jaromir Jagr | 766 | 1,155 | 1,921 |
| Mark Messier | 694 | 1,193 | 1,887 |
| Gordie Howe | 801 | 1,049 | 1,850 |
| Ron Francis | 549 | 1,249 | 1,798 |
| Marcel Dionne | 731 | 1,040 | 1,771 |
| Steve Yzerman | 692 | 1,063 | 1,755 |
| Mario Lemieux | 690 | 1,033 | 1,723 |
| Joe Sakic | 625 | 1,016 | 1,641 |
| Sidney Crosby | 603 | 1,035 | 1,638 |
| Phil Esposito | 717 | 873 | 1,590 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 872 | 708 | 1,580 |
Ovechkin’s two points in the win also gave him 30 points (19g, 11a) in 23 games this season. Per the NHL, he is the second-fastest player, aged 39 years or older, to reach the 30-point plateau in league history.
The Great Eight beat out former Rangers forward Jean Ratelle (1979-80) by one game for sole possession of second.
Fastest to 30 points age 39 or older
| Player | Year | Age | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe (DET) | 1968-69 | 40 | 19 |
| Alex Ovechkin (WSH) | 2024-25 | 39 | 23 |
| Jean Ratelle (BOS) | 1979-80 | 39 | 24 |
| Johnny Bucyk (BOS) | 1975-76 | 40 | 27 |
| Johnny Bucyk (BOS) | 1974-75 | 39 | 27 |
| Teemu Selanne (ANA) | 2010-11 | 40 | 28 |
| Brett Hull (DET) | 2003-04 | 39 | 28 |
| Jean Beliveau (MTL) | 1970-71 | 39 | 28 |
The next piece of NHL history Ovechkin will likely touch is tying Ron Francis for the second-most 20-goal seasons of all time.
Ovechkin, sitting at 19 goals this year, has 19 prior 20-goal seasons. Gordie Howe holds the top mark with 22 20-goal campaigns.
