“If you have a chance to pass it to him, you want to pass it to him,” Washington winger Tom Wilson said about the foolproof plan the team relies on to score goals. Wilson’s words also underscore the towering responsibility his teammate and the Capitals’ captain shoulders on a daily basis. While Alex Ovechkin‘s skills with the stick and the puck are already beyond any shred of doubt, his determination to keep coming back from setbacks has also made him an NHL icon.

The Russian captain of the Capitals could make history on Sunday. Washington will take on the Islanders at the UBS Arena in a few hours’ time, and Ovechkin is looking at the possibility of becoming the all-time highest scorer in the NHL by scoring his 895th career goal and finally surpassing the “Great One,” Wayne Gretzky. But that’s not the only reason his 2024-25 season will go down in the history books.

On April 5, B/R Open Ice took to X to share how Alex Ovechkin stands tall in the 2024-25 goal-scoring charts. Despite suffering a painful leg injury in November last year, the 39-year-old has managed to become the third-highest scorer this season with 41 goals to his name already. “Alex Ovechkin is 39 years old. He broke his leg in November, and missed 16 games. He is currently THIRD overall in the NHL in goals,” the social media update shared the Capitals’ winger’s triumph.

As per the attached image, Ovechkin is placed behind only Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers (52) and Toronto’s William Nylander (42). What makes the feat impressive is the fact that Alex racked up goals even after fracturing his left fibula against the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 18. With the Capitals securing their spot in the playoffs already, fans should rest assured that his numbers are only going to go up from here.

While fans were initially concerned about Ovechkin’s physical condition after his injury, Alex soon proved why he’s the rightful person to carry Gretzky’s baton. Now, standing on the cusp of history, the Capitals’ star is getting all the help from his colleagues in every possible way to ensure his historic milestone is marked with the posterity it deserves.

Alex Ovechkin has everyone rallying behind his cause

Team insider Tarik El-Bashir only yesterday shed light on how Capitals’ employees are taking extra steps to commemorate Ovechkin’s imminent milestone. In a social media update, El-Bashir revealed that “a small army of Capital’s employees,” is doing everything to label and collect all of Ovechkin’s Gr8 Chase memorabilia. “…when Alex Ovechkin scores a goal, they have to go get his jersey, the stick, the puck, and they label everything,” he was heard saying while also mentioning that the preparations for Saturday’s game against the Islanders have everyone in overdrive mode.

“The juice, the life that comes alive in the rink when he gets the puck — it’s pretty incredible. You can tell a lot of smart hockey fans have been watching, because when he gets the puck in the right spots, there’s a little more of a buzz,” said Alex’s teammate, Dylan Strome on how the entire locker room is waiting with high anticipation for the moment when the former reaches the top of the NHL scoring list.

Now, riding high on Alex Ovechkin’s success, the Washington Capitals hope to maintain the momentum for the playoffs as well. The Metropolitan Division team is on the quest to secure its second Stanley Cup, and looking at how the captain is leading the charge from the front, the fans are bracing up with high hopes. Do you also think the chances are high for the boys to make their leader’s exploits all the more memorable this season? Tell us your predictions for the Capitals’ winning chances in a comment!