In their upcomming match, the focus of the Kings will be to decelerate the historic march of Alex Ovechkin towards Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. Ovechkin, captain of the Washington Capitals, has been consistently closing the gap on Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record throughout the season.
Ovechkin currently stands on an impressive 730 goals, while Gretzky holds the record with 894. The Capitals’ captain is on track to eclipse Gretzky if he can maintain his career average of 0.61 goals per game. This season alone, Ovechkin has scored 24 goals in 27 games – a significant increase from his career average.
The Capitals will face the Kings in their next match and the Kings are clear about their strategy: slow Ovechkin down. No doubt this strategy stems from Ovechkin’s previous performances against them. In 32 games against the Kings, Ovechkin has mustered 15 goals, making him a constant threat.
The Kings’ coaching staff have identified and acknowledged the challenge they face. Head coach Todd McLellan recently commented on the threat Ovechkin presents, saying, “His shot, his drive, his durability, his love of scoring, his willingness to go to the areas where goals are scored – he has that package.”
There is worldwide anticipation towards Ovechkin’s potential to break Gretzky’s record. As the games proceed, the Kings and their strategy to slow down Ovechkin will be watched closely. Needless to say, the upcoming match promises to be an eventful showdown between the Capitals and the Kings.
Last modified: March 14, 2025
