Washington Capitals Forward Alex Ovechkin is facing time off the ice with a broken fibula he suffered on Monday night against the Utah Hockey Club when he collided with another Utah player, clipping both their legs together. The team announced the unfortunate news Thursday. It’s a huge blow to the team as they fight for the top spot in Metropolitan Division. Ovechkin is expected to miss at least 4-6 weeks.
Alex Ovechkin Chasing History
Alex Ovechkin is chasing history by breaking the all-time scoring record of 894 goals set NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, which has stood since 1999. The Capitals star has 15 goals this season, including five in his last two games. Ovechkin is 26 goals short of the record and it will have to wait until he gets back on the ice.
In the meantime, the Washington Capitals will have to rely on depth and their team to step it up while their Captain is out with injury. Conner McMichael, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Aleksei Protashas showed up in a way for the Captials that will need to stay hot if the Caps want to keep pace in the Metropolitan Division. The Washington Capitals are 13-4-1 right behind the New Jersey Devils in the standings. If Ovechkin comes back within the 4–6-week window he will return late December-early January.
Alex Ovechkin’s days are numbered in the NHL with him getting older. Ovechkin is 39 years old trying to chase history. It is unfortunate this injury has happened. Hopefully, for his sake and the Capitals he can return to the ice quickly from this injury. It would be remarkable if Ovechkin can claim the most goals of all time.
Ovechkin already has a Stanley Cup, is a three-time Hart Trophy winner and is destined to be in the NHL hall of Fame. He is named the “Great 8” for a reason. Now with the most goals of all time hanging in the balance of his career, he has a chance to become one of the greatest players of all time.
Final Thoughts
Alex Ovechkin is one of the best players in the NHL at 39 years old. It will be a great accomplishment for his career if he can break Wayne Gretzky’s record of most goals in the NHL. Ovechkin is also one of the few players that has stayed with the same franchise throughout his entire NHL career.
Ovechkin is in his 20th season in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. As Ovechkin heals from this injury the whole world will wait for the Great 8 to come back to the ice to see if history can be made with the most goals of all time. Ovechkin will have to get 895 goals to break the record that has been held for so long by Wayne Gretzky.
