On December 13, 2022, the hockey world witnessed a historic moment that will be talked about for generations. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 800th NHL career goal, cementing his status as one of the greatest goal-scorers in hockey history. The path to the legendary 'ovechkin 800' milestone was not just a chase against the clock, but a dramatic, decade-spanning journey through some of the most celebrated records in sports history. What started as a quest to reach the legendary 800-goal mark eventually unlocked the door to passing Gordie Howe's 802 goals, shattering Wayne Gretzky's all-time record, and becoming the founding member of the elite 900-goal club.

In this comprehensive breakdown, we will trace the critical checkpoints of Ovechkin's history-making career, dissect the night he achieved the historic 800-goal mark, explore how he surpassed Mr. Hockey, and look at the advanced analytics that prove his legendary scoring prowess is unmatched in NHL history.

The Milestone Roadmap: From 500 to 767 and 787

To truly appreciate the magnitude of Ovechkin reaching his 800th goal, we must first look at the relentless road that led him there. Sniping goals in the modern NHL is notoriously difficult, yet Ovechkin has maintained a metronomic scoring pace across three decades. Each milestone along the way laid the foundation for the ultimate chase of Wayne Gretzky's record.

The Launchpad: Ovechkin 500

On January 10, 2016, a 30-year-old Alex Ovechkin stepped onto the ice at the Verizon Center against the Ottawa Senators. He was sitting on 499 career goals. Late in the second period on a Capitals power play, Ovechkin gathered a pass near the slot and fired a wrist shot over the flailing glove of Senators goalie Andrew Hammond. The arena exploded as Ovechkin scored his 500th goal ('ovechkin 500'). He became the 43rd player in NHL history to reach the mark and the fifth-fastest ever, doing so in just 801 games. This milestone served notice to the world that Ovechkin was not just a great scorer of his generation—he was an all-time legend in the making.

Entering the All-Time Podium: Ovechkin 767

By the time March 2022 arrived, Ovechkin was rapidly climbing the top-five ladder. On March 15, 2022, against the New York Islanders, Ovechkin scored his 767th career goal ('ovechkin 767'), beating goaltender Semyon Varlamov. This historic tally broke a tie with Jaromir Jagr, moving Ovechkin into sole possession of third place on the NHL's all-time goals list and crowning him as the greatest European-born goal scorer in hockey history.

The Playmaking Peak: Ovechkin 1400

Just weeks after passing Jagr, Ovechkin hit another spectacular milestone on April 6, 2022. By scoring a power-play goal against Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ovechkin captured his 1400th career NHL point ('ovechkin 1400'). It was his 773rd career goal, proving that while his shot was his signature weapon, his overall offensive impact was extraordinarily well-rounded.

Single-Franchise Loyalty: Ovechkin 787

As the 2022-23 season got underway, Ovechkin began taking down records previously held by the legendary 'Mr. Hockey,' Gordie Howe. On November 5, 2022, against the Arizona Coyotes, Ovechkin scored his 787th career goal ('ovechkin 787'). This broke Howe's long-standing NHL record for the most goals scored with a single franchise (Howe had scored 786 goals with the Detroit Red Wings). It was a beautiful testament to Ovechkin's lifelong loyalty to the Washington Capitals organization.

Closing the Distance: Ovechkin 791

With the momentum of the single-franchise record behind him, Ovechkin began a rapid countdown. On November 25, 2022, against Jacob Markstrom and the Calgary Flames, Ovi snapped a shot to the short side to record career goal number 791 ('ovechkin 791'). He was now just nine goals away from the magical 800-goal mark and ten goals away from tying Gordie Howe for second place all-time.

The Night of the Great Eight: Inside the Alexander Ovechkin 800th Goal

On December 13, 2022, the Washington Capitals traveled to the United Center to face off against the Chicago Blackhawks. Everyone in the building, and millions watching around the globe, knew they were on milestone watch. Ovechkin entered the game with 797 goals. What followed was a masterclass in opportunistic goal scoring and pure dramatic flair.

Ovechkin did not slowly crawl across the finish line of history. Instead, he shattered it with a legendary hat trick, making his 800th career goal one of the most memorable nights in sports history.

• Goal #798: Just 24 seconds into the first period, Ovechkin swatted a bouncing puck in the left circle past Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek. The Capitals took an immediate 1-0 lead, and the crowd began to rumble.
• Goal #799: Less than eight minutes later, at the 8:14 mark of the first period, the Capitals went on the power play. From his signature 'office' near the left face-off circle, Ovechkin tapped in a rebound near the post to make it 2-0. The United Center crowd, despite being the opposing fans, began chanting his name.
• Goal #800: The moment of destiny arrived at 6:34 of the third period. Following a line change, forward Anthony Mantha drove the puck deep and spotted a right-handed stick cutting backdoor. Mantha slid a pass through a scramble of defenders. Evgeny Kuznetsov helped facilitate the play, and Ovechkin jammed the loose puck past Mrazek to complete the hat trick and score his 'ovechkin 800th' career goal.

What happened next was pure hockey magic. The United Center erupted in a massive standing ovation. Chants of 'Ovi! Ovi!' filled the arena as his Capitals teammates cleared the bench to mob their captain on the ice. In his postgame press conference, a relieved and emotional Ovechkin said: "It's a huge number. It's the best company you can ever imagine... without my teammates, the organization, the fans, my family, I would never get that number."

By achieving this milestone, Ovechkin became only the third player in NHL history to reach the 800-goal club, joining Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801).

Passing Mr. Hockey: Tying with 801 and Surpassing with 802 Ovechkin

With 'alexander ovechkin 800' safely in the history books, the hockey world turned its attention to the immediate next step: passing Gordie Howe. At 800 goals, Ovechkin was just one goal shy of tying Howe and two away from taking sole possession of second place all-time.

Ten days after his historic night in Chicago, on December 23, 2022, the Capitals hosted the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena. The home crowd was electric, hoping to see history made on home ice before the holiday break.

They did not have to wait long. At 18:22 of the first period, Ovechkin took a drop pass from Dylan Strome on the rush. Unleashing a wicked wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle, Ovechkin beat Jets goaltender David Rittich between the pads. With that goal ('ovechkin 801' or '801 ovechkin'), he officially tied Gordie Howe.

But Ovechkin was not content with just a tie. Late in the third period, with the Capitals leading 3-1, the Jets pulled David Rittich for an extra attacker. With exactly one minute left in regulation, the puck found its way to Ovechkin in the neutral zone. Showing incredible selflessness, Ovechkin initially tried to pass the puck to teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov to secure a team victory. However, Kuznetsov immediately passed it back, refusing to steal the spotlight and insisting that the captain make history. Ovechkin slid the puck into the empty net, scoring his 802nd career goal ('ovechkin 802' or '802 ovechkin' or 'alex ovechkin 802').

Ovechkin had officially passed Gordie Howe for the second-most goals in NHL history. The postgame celebration was a family affair; Ovechkin sat in his locker stall with his two young sons, Sergei and Ilya, who proudly held the milestone pucks from goals 801 and 802. Even after reaching such heights, Ovechkin remained relentless, scoring his 'ovechkin 809' goal just two weeks later on January 5, 2023, against the Columbus Blue Jackets to kick off the new calendar year.

The 'Ovechkin Empty Net' Controversy and the Ultimate Goalie Record

As Alex Ovechkin marched closer to Wayne Gretzky's all-time record, a vocal minority of hockey critics began to raise an objection. They pointed to the number of empty-net goals Ovechkin scored late in games, mockingly calling him the king of the 'ovechkin empty net' goals. It is undeniably true that Ovechkin holds the NHL record for empty-net goals, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's mark of 56 and sitting at 67 empty-netters as of his recent campaigns.

However, a deeper dive into the analytics completely dismantles this criticism.

First, empty-net goals are a reflection of immense coaching trust. Coaches do not put defensively irresponsible players on the ice during 6-on-5 situations when protecting a narrow lead. To be on the ice in the final minute of a game means you are trusted to play sound defensive hockey, win battles along the boards, and clear the zone. Ovechkin's ability to consistently secure these goals is a testament to his hockey IQ and late-game reliability.

Second, and most importantly, Ovechkin permanently silenced this debate on November 20, 2025, against the Montreal Canadiens. In the first period on a power play, Ovechkin ripped a shot past Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault. That goal was the 839th non-empty-net goal of Ovechkin's career, officially passing Wayne Gretzky (who had 838 non-empty-net goals) for the most goals scored against an actual goaltender in NHL history.

Today, Ovechkin stands as the undisputed king of goal-scoring. He holds the records for the most total goals, the most empty-net goals, and the most goals scored on a goaltender. No matter how you slice the data, 'The Great Eight' is peerless.

Chasing the Great One: Passing 895 and the 900-Goal Mountaintop

The journey that was supercharged by his 800th goal culminated in the ultimate sports milestone. On April 6, 2025, at UBS Arena against the New York Islanders, Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal, beating goalie Ilya Sorokin on a signature power-play one-timer. With that goal, Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's legendary record of 894 career goals—a record that many analysts believed would stand forever in modern, goaltender-dominated hockey.

But Ovechkin was not done writing his legacy. On November 5, 2025, the Capitals hosted the St. Louis Blues. Early in the second period, Ovechkin beat Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington to score his 900th career NHL goal. In a hilarious moment of sporting drama, Binnington actually tried to hide the historic milestone puck in his pants to keep it away from Ovechkin, but the linesman quickly caught him and retrieved the puck for the Capitals captain.

Ovechkin is now the only player in the 100-plus-year history of the National Hockey League to enter the elite 900-goal club. From a rookie debuting in 2005 to a 40-year-old living legend, his journey has rewritten the hockey record books forever.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alex Ovechkin's 800th Goal and Milestones

When did Alex Ovechkin score his 800th goal?

Alex Ovechkin scored his 800th career regular-season goal on December 13, 2022, against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. He accomplished the milestone in dramatic fashion by scoring a hat trick.

How many empty net goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Alex Ovechkin holds the NHL record for empty-net goals with 67. However, he also holds the NHL record for the most career goals scored against an actual goaltender, having passed Wayne Gretzky's record of 838 non-empty-net goals in November 2025.

Who did Ovechkin score goal 802 against?

Ovechkin scored his 802nd career goal into an empty net against the Winnipeg Jets on December 23, 2022, after the Jets pulled goaltender David Rittich for an extra attacker. This goal moved him past Gordie Howe for second place all-time.

What was Ovechkin's 1400th point milestone?

Ovechkin achieved his 1400th career NHL point on April 6, 2022, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He reached the milestone by scoring a goal against goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, becoming the 21st player in league history to reach 1,400 points.

What records did Ovechkin break with goals 767 and 787?

Goal 767 (scored on March 15, 2022, against Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders) passed Jaromir Jagr for third place all-time and made Ovechkin the highest-scoring European player in NHL history. Goal 787 (scored on November 5, 2022, against the Arizona Coyotes) broke Gordie Howe's record for the most goals scored with a single franchise.

Conclusion

Alex Ovechkin's march to 800 goals was a defining epoch in hockey history. It was the critical checkpoint that transformed the 'unbreakable' Gretzky record from a distant dream into an inevitable reality. By combining unprecedented durability, a devastating one-timer, and an unquenchable passion for the game, 'The Great Eight' has cemented his status as the greatest goal-scorer to ever lace up a pair of skates. Whether scoring into an empty net or blasting a puck past a world-class goaltender, Ovechkin's legacy as a pure scoring force is immortal.