Alex Ovechkin Struggles to Reach 900-Goal Milestone as Drought Continues
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is currently facing a scoring slump, with only two goals in his first 12 games of the season, leaving him one goal shy of the historic 900-goal mark.
The 40-year-old forward, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, has not found the back of the net in his last four games heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the St. Louis Blues at Capital One Arena in Washington. Ovechkin acknowledged the difficulty, stating, “Yeah, a little struggling, but overall, we just have to stick to the plan and keep working and eventually you will score.” He surpassed Wayne Gretzky last season to become the NHL’s all-time leader, a record previously thought unbreakable.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery attributes Ovechkin’s offensive challenges to broader team struggles, noting the team is averaging just 2.58 goals per game, significantly down from last season’s 3.49. He also pointed to the power play, where Ovechkin, the NHL record holder with 326 power-play goals, has yet to score, as a contributing factor. “When he’s not getting opportunities…it’s not a good thing,” Carbery said. The Capitals’ power play currently ranks 26th in the League at 15 percent. You can find more information about NHL statistics on the official NHL website.
Ovechkin also admitted that missing a week of training camp with a lower-body injury may have impacted his early-season timing. He emphasized the importance of avoiding self-pressure, saying, “As soon as you start thinking about, ‘Well, you scored two goals in 12 games,’ or whatever, you’re just going to put pressure on yourself.” The Capitals are hoping to turn their offensive fortunes around, and a goal from their captain would be a significant boost. For a look at the Capital One Arena schedule, visit their official website.
The Capitals will continue to work on improving their offensive output, and Ovechkin is expected to remain a key focus for the team as they aim to get back on track.
