Alex Ovechkin. Even the name itself is enough to draw attention. Well, he did it again — because just a few hours ago, the Capitals’ legend scored his 885th goal, meaning he is only 10 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals in his career. Who thought that could happen? And let’s not forget, he was also a hero in a 3-2 overtime against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. It was his 1599th point in the NHL, so the next one will make him the 11th player in the NHL history to achieve 1600 points.

And if we’re doing the math, with his 0.70 goals per game pace this season, he might surpass Gretzky’s record on April 6 when the Capitals play against the Islanders. But let’s pump the brakes on the record talk for a second—because Ovi sure is. The Capitals’ captain was more fixated on the moment, soaking in a hard-fought victory against the Rangers rather than letting history take up space in his head. Spoken like a true professional.

Alex Ovechkin concentrates more on the game!

After the game, the Washington Capitals shared a clip that gave fans a front-row seat to Alex Ovechkin’s postgame thoughts. A journalist kicked things off, asking how necessary it was for the Caps to pull off that kind of win. Never one to overcomplicate things, Ovi kept it real. “Yeah, I would say it’s a huge game, mentally,” he admitted, nodding to the team’s recent struggles. “We lost three in a row, then we lost, then we won the last game, and this was a huge, kind of mentally-wise, so yeah, we’ll take it and move on.”

Translation? The win wasn’t just about two points. It was about getting their heads right, shaking off the slump, and demonstrating they still fought for the team. It’s a basic ideology for every great sports team. Then came the moment every Caps fan lives for—Ovi’s goal. The journalist asked if he heard the crowd chanting his name after he lit the lamp, but the Great 8 simply answered, “No.”

Classic Ovi!

But the real kicker? When asked if he ever thinks about his chase for Gretzky’s record in the heat of the moment, Ovi didn’t hesitate. “Not really. I just try to do my best and try to do my job.”

No overthinking, no distractions—just Ovi being Ovi, doing what he does best. Let’s be real. The Capitals have been riding a bumpy road lately, dropping three straight before finally snapping the skid.

But hey, they turned things around on March 3rd with a wild one against the Senators. Pierre-Luc Dubois came through clutch, racking up a goal and two assists, helping Washington grind out a 5-4 shootout win at Capital One Arena. It became a much-needed W for sure. But coming back to Ovi, his record chase has even helped some other NHL team create broadcasting history!

Ovi helps other teams create history!

When you’re Alex Ovechkin, the game doesn’t just revolve around you—you are the game. And ESPN? Oh, they know it. NHL insider Braylon Breeze leaked some tea in late February when he said the network had made considerable changes to its schedule. The real headline, though? The Columbus Blue Jackets will have their first appearance on ABC broadcast.

And who’s the man pulling the strings behind the scenes without even trying? Take a wild guess!

Originally, April 12 was a battle between the Islanders and the Flyers. But ESPN took one look at their lineup and said, “Nah, we’re making room for greatness.” Now, that slot belongs to Washington vs. Columbus at 12:30 ET, and let’s be real—nobody’s tuning in just for the Blue Jackets.

Experts agree this historic broadcast isn’t about Columbus, it’s about the Ovechkin effect. When you share the ice with a living legend, even underdogs get their moment in the spotlight.

And let’s not forget why Ovi’s the main character here. He began the season with 853 goals and you can be sure he’s locked in to break that all-time record. Even Wayne Gretzky realized the writing is on the wall. “It’s just a matter of time, whether it’s late this year, early next year, whenever. I mean, he’s a great player. He’s a great goal scorer,” The Great One told NHL.com.

So yeah, the Canadian king knows what’s coming. The throne is shaking, and Ovi? He’s ready to take his seat.