Ovechkin Scores 1,000th NHL Goal, Joining Elite Company

Russian star becomes second player in league history to reach the milestone

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:07pm

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Alexander Ovechkin, the 40-year-old Russian forward for the Washington Capitals, scored his 1,000th career NHL goal in a game against the Colorado Avalanche. Ovechkin now has 923 goals in the regular season and 77 in the playoffs, making him only the second player in league history to reach the 1,000-goal mark, after Wayne Gretzky.

Why it matters

Ovechkin's achievement cements his status as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. Reaching 1,000 career goals is an incredibly rare feat, accomplished by only two players in the league's 100+ year history. This milestone further solidifies Ovechkin's legacy as a dominant, prolific scorer who has been a cornerstone of the Capitals franchise for nearly two decades.

The details

Ovechkin scored the historic goal in the 15th minute of the third period of the Capitals' home game against the Colorado Avalanche. The goal was Ovechkin's 923rd in the regular season, to go along with 77 playoff goals, for a total of 1,000 in his illustrious career. Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record with 1,016 total goals (894 regular season, 122 playoffs).

  • Ovechkin scored his 1,000th career goal on March 22, 2026.
  • Ovechkin has played 1,723 total NHL games (1,562 regular season, 161 playoffs).

The players

Alexander Ovechkin

A 40-year-old Russian forward who has played for the Washington Capitals since 2005. He is now the second player in NHL history to score 1,000 total goals, trailing only the legendary Wayne Gretzky.

Wayne Gretzky

Considered the greatest hockey player of all time, Gretzky holds the NHL record with 1,016 total goals (894 regular season, 122 playoffs) in 1,694 games played.

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What they’re saying

“Ovechkin's achievement is a testament to his incredible skill and longevity as a player. To reach 1,000 goals in this era of the NHL is simply remarkable.”

— Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner

What’s next

Ovechkin will look to continue climbing the all-time goals list, with Gretzky's record of 1,016 total goals now firmly in his sights.

The takeaway

Ovechkin's 1,000th goal cements his status as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history, joining the legendary Wayne Gretzky as the only two players to reach this rarified milestone. His sustained excellence and prolific scoring over nearly two decades with the Capitals makes him one of the most dominant players of his era.