Alex Ovechkin passes Red Wings legend Gordie Howe for No. 2 on goals list

Alex Ovechkin moved past Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe and into second place on the NHL’s all-time goals list Friday, scoring twice in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena.

After scoring his 801st goal in the first period to tie Howe, Ovechkin tallied an empty-net goal with one minute remaining in regulation for No. 802.

The Capitals showed a video tribute in which Howe’s son, Mark, the Red Wings’ former director of pro scouting, congratulated Ovechkin.

“We want to congratulate you on such a fantastic achievement,” Mark Howe said in the video, according to The Associated Press. “You’ve been a pleasure to watch.”

Gordie Howe died in 2016 at age 88.

He retired as a player in 1980 at age 52, after one NHL season with the Hartford Whalers. In addition to his 801 NHL regular season goals, Howe scored 174 goals during six seasons in the World Hockey Association.

Ovechkin, 37, is 92 goals short of tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals.

He has 22 goals this season, well on pace to record his 13th season with 40-plus goals. He is signed for three more seasons and at his current pace could catch Gretzky late in the 2024-25 season.

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