Will Alex Ovechkin bookend his illustrious NHL career with games against the Blue Jackets?
That won’t be known until sometime this summer, but the NHL’s all-time goal scorer will play for the Washington Capitals on April 14 at Nationwide Arena in a season finale the day after both teams were eliminated from playoff contention.
Ovechkin, 40, will finish his 21st NHL season by playing all 82 games.
“His durability through his career … when it’s all said and done, and you dissect how he was able to be so successful of a goal-scorer and NHL player, that is a big part of it is the longevity and the durability,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbury said. “Him being able to consistently be in the lineup every single night is a big part of why he’s been able to reach the goal record and be so consistent for so many years.”
Ovechkin participated in the Capitals’ morning skate at Nationwide Arena but won’t speak to reporters until after the game. He recently said that his decision about retiring from the NHL or returning for another season with the Capitals won’t be made until the offseason.
Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record by scoring his 895th goal April 6, 2025 against the New York Islanders. He’s since added 32 more goals to his career ledger by leading the Capitals again to increase his career total to 929 in 1,572 games.
Ovscored 28 of those goals in 53 games against the Blue Jackets, including the first two of his career in his NHL debut Oct. 5, 2005 in Washington. Depending on his decision whether to continue playing in the NHL, he’s got at least one game left to add to those totals.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Alex Ovechkin playing against Columbus Blue Jackets in season finale
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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