Alex Ovechkin’s Historic Chase Continues as Capitals Host Utah

Alex Ovechkin is on the verge of rewriting NHL history, closing in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record. Now at 879 career goals, he needs just 16 more to surpass “The Great One” and solidify his legendary status.

On Sunday afternoon, Ovechkin will look to extend his hot streak as the Washington Capitals take on the Utah Hockey Club. With goals in four consecutive games, he’s now up to 26 on the season and is pacing for a 45-goal campaign—a remarkable feat for a 39-year-old still dominating the league.

Ovechkin’s Late-Career Surge

While many players slow down in their late 30s, Ovechkin is defying the odds. His 0.68 goals-per-game rate this season is the fifth highest of his career. If he keeps this up, he’ll hit the 40-goal mark for the 14th time in his 20-season NHL career.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery believes this isn’t even peak Ovechkin yet.

The Capitals are red-hot, riding a five-game point streak (3-0-2) after their 4-3 win over the Flyers. A win on Sunday would tie them with the Winnipeg Jets for the NHL’s best record.

Mental Reset Before the Break

This is the final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off break (Feb. 12-20), and the Capitals are one of the few teams without any players participating. Defenseman John Carlson sees this as a huge advantage for the final stretch.

Utah Looks to Bounce Back

On the other side, Utah is struggling. They just took a 7-3 beating from Carolina and have hovered around .500 all season. Despite this, they’re still within reach of a wild-card spot, sitting just eight points behind.

Coach Andre Tourigny was not impressed with the team’s defensive effort.

Lawson Crouse’s Offensive Slump

A key concern for Utah has been the lack of production from forward Lawson Crouse. After three straight 20-goal seasons, he’s on pace for just 12 this year. His 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists) in 54 games have been underwhelming.

Crouse was scratched against Philadelphia on Tuesday but returned Thursday vs. Columbus, where he scored his second goal in 15 games.

Key Matchup Factors: Capitals vs. Utah

Washington Capitals (31-13-6)

Utah Hockey Club (23-23-8)

Join the conversation—who’s leading the playoff race?

Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

Looking Ahead: Post-Break Schedule

Capitals:

• Feb. 21: vs. Boston Bruins
• Feb. 23: vs. New York Rangers
• Feb. 25: @ Pittsburgh Penguins

Utah:

• Feb. 22: vs. Los Angeles Kings

With Ovechkin’s historic milestone approaching, every game matters. Will he take another step toward NHL history on Sunday? Tune in to find out.