Ovechkin nets goal No. 891. He requires 3 more to equal Gretzky and 4 to surpass him.

Alex Ovechkin is just a hat trick away. The Washington Capitals forward netted his 891st career goal on Tuesday night, putting him three goals shy of tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record and four away from becoming the league’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

A missed empty-net opportunity in the closing moments of the Capitals’ 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins prevented Ovechkin from getting even closer. “It’s getting close,” stated Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. “You can sense it. It’s definitely palpable.”

“If that empty netter had gone in…” he said, trailing off with a grin. “Yeah, it’s getting close.” A three-time NHL MVP and nine-time goal leader, Ovechkin missed six weeks earlier this season due to a broken left leg but has since bounced back, scoring 12 goals in his last 18 games and returning to a record-setting trajectory. He has tallied 38 goals in 58 games, a pace that could see him break the record during the Capitals’ penultimate regular-season game on April 15 against the New York Islanders.

“I think back to when he was injured and out for a while. At that moment, everyone was wondering if it would still be feasible,” commented goalie Charlie Lindgren.

“But anything is achievable with Alex Ovechkin. We’ve witnessed that so far,” Lindgren remarked. “With eight games remaining, the most encouraging part is the absence of pressure. The team is truly enjoying this experience.”

Washington found itself down 1-0 with roughly four minutes left in the first period when John Carlson directed the puck toward the net, and Dylan Strome deftly redirected it across the crease. Ovechkin easily slid it into the open side of the net for his power-play goal No. 322 — a new NHL record. He celebrated by pumping both arms before joining his teammates for a group hug. Later, he downplayed the goal’s significance.

“A goal is a goal,” he stated. “It was a fantastic play by Stromer and Carly.”

The Boston crowd offered a mixed reaction for the visiting Capitals. The Bruins, now on a nine-game losing streak, have already dismissed their coach and are likely to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016, prompting many fans—some donning Ovechkin jerseys—to come out to witness history in the making.

Ovechkin had a solid opportunity to score No. 892 with about a minute remaining when he gathered the puck near the Bruins’ blue line, spun around, and shot wide of the empty net. Instead, he ended the evening with 38 goals this season—still on pace to reach 40 for the 14th time, which would also be a league record. “He’s one of a kind, and it’s definitely exciting to see him score,” noted Washington forward Ryan Leonard, who was playing for Boston College on Sunday night and made his NHL debut as Ovechkin’s teammate on Tuesday.

“If you had told me this a few years back, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he reflected. “Honestly, I’m not sure what to say. It’s just incredible, and I’m really trying to soak in the moment.”

Read Also:–RCB vs GT Live Cricket Score Streaming Online, IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans Match Live Free – What Time and Where to Tune In?