Alex Ovechkin needed 29 goals to catch Gretzky, he has 28

When Alex Ovechkin signed a five year contract to potentially finish out his career with the Washington Capitals, he needed to average 33 goals a season to catch Wayne Gretzky.

After a 50 goal season last year, the ninth time he’s done so in his career, that number went down to 29 over four years.

Thanks to two goals last night in Washington’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Ovechkin now has 28 goals on the season. It’s January 4 as I’m writing this.

Ovechkin is not just one away from 29, he’s on pace to finish the regular season with 50 goals. With 808 goals he is 86 away from Gretzky.

Although Ovechkin had two goals, the spotlight was on Tage Thompson who competed a hat trick in overtime to end the Caps winning streak.

Ovechkin said this about Thompson after the game:

“Yeah obviously he’s big, strong. Good puck mover, you know? Have great shot. They young, they talented group of guys out there but it was one game.”

The Caps will now look to start a new winning streak on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road. Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom won’t travel but they are closer to returning to action.

Ovechkin’s goals marked his seventh multi goal game of the season and 165th of his career. Only Gretzky (189) has more multi goal games in NHL history. Dating back to Dec. 23, Ovechkin has scored eight goals in his last five games.

After Ovechkin had a hat trick in Chicago against the Blackhawks for his 800th goal, he went four games without a goal until reaching 802 to pass Gordie Howe. Then he scored in a loss to Ottawa against the Senators and then had a hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens on New Years Eve.

Like I said a few stories ago, it’s not an if it’s a when.