How many goals did Alex Ovechkin score today? Capitals star ties Wayne Gretzky as Washington downs Blackhawks

Alex Ovechkin seems to have a flair for the dramatic like few others in hockey history.

Sitting just two goals away from Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record, it would’ve been understandable if the Capitals star pressed in his pursuit of the epic mark.

That wasn’t the case on Friday night, however. Ovechkin painted a composed picture in front of the Washington faithful. His demeanor seemed to work a treat, too; Ovechkin struck twice against the Blackhawks as the Capitals captured a 5-3 win.

Ovechkin fluttered around ares he so frequently pops up in. The first saw Ovechkin linger just outside the crease before firing an arrow above Knight’s shoulder. The subsequent shot ricocheted off the post then off of Knight’s back before settling into the net.

The second, meanwhile, saw Ovechkin return to his favorite domain — inside the left face-off circle. He corralled a Dylan Strome pass on the power play and let loose with a one timer. It nestled kindly into the back of the cage, slaloming past Knight’s blocker in the process.

The Great 8 had more than a few chances to capture history all for himself on Friday night. But his final few attempts couldn’t help but find Knight’s glove.

In the end, he finished one goal short of sole share of the goal-scoring crown. Have no fear, though — he returns to the ice on Sunday, too.

STREAM: Watch Capitals vs. Blackhawks LIVE on Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News tracked live updates from the Capitals’ duel with the Blackhawks. Below are highlights, analysis and more as Ovechkin moved level with Gretzky on the NHL’s scoring charts.

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Capitals vs. Blackhawks live score

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Did Alex Ovechkin score today?

• Goals: 2
• Assists: 0
• Points: 2
• Shots on goal: 5

Capitals vs. Blackhawks live updates, results, highlights from Alex Ovechkin goals record chase

End of third period: Capitals 5, Blackhawks 3

9:47 p.m.: Ovechkin doesn’t get sole possession of the all-time goal record. But he’s got a share of it. The Capitals win this one, 5-3. 

9:46 p.m.: Knight’s staying in the frame. Another effort nestles into his glove.

9:44 p.m.: Ovechkin gets a trio of looks, two of which land in Knight’s grasp.

9:43 p.m.: Knight’s back in the net. Ovechkin’s back on the ice. Could this be the moment?

9:42 p.m.: GOAL! Ryan Leonard bags his first-career goal as the Capitals effectively put this one out of reach!

Capitals 5, Blackhawks 3

9:39 p.m.: The Blackhawks pull Knight from their goalmouth. Ovechkin could get a chance to add to his empty-net tally — and take home the all-time goal record in the process.

9:37 p.m.: For a moment, it looked as if Ovechkin had a chance to grab the record for himself. Fielded a puck on the breakaway and flicked the puck from his backhand to his forehand. But as he attempted to create a shooting angle for himself, Knight stretched d his hand far enough to deter him from shooting.

9:32 p.m.: Gretzky is gracious as ever regarding Ovechkin’s chase for his historic feat. Cited his father’s words from when he snapped Gordie Howe’s record 31 years ago. Also made time to mention other standouts who have taken the game to new heights in the years since his and Mario Lemieux’s retirement, including Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.

9:16 p.m.: GOAL! Ovechkin ties the record! Where else could it be but on the power play! He drifted off into the left face-off circle and flashed a one-timer blocker side past Knight. He’s level with Gretzky at No. 894! The crowd is in raptures as the Capitals take the lead!

Capitals 4, Blackhawks 3

9:12 p.m.: Caps star Aliaksei Protas exited the game after appearing to suffer an injury. Unclear whether it was his foot — which might’ve gotten caught up in a Blackhawks’ defender’s skate — or another part of his lower body. Regardless, he didn’t look too pleased coming off the ice; he just limped into the locker room.

Protas is second on Washington in scoring, tallying 66 points in 76 games thus far.

9:10 p.m.: GOAL! The Caps level things at three, with Strome finding the cage in an unusual manner. Strome fired a shot towards the net which into Ovechkin’s path, But just before the Russian Rocket could get a stick on the puck, a Chicago defenseman pushed it into the goal.

End of second period: Blackhawks 3, Capitals 2

8:45 p.m.: The second period comes to a close with the Blackhawks clinging to a one-goal advantage. Ovechkin had a few chances, including a snap shot on the doorstep which whistled wide. But he’s yet to get on the scoresheet again.

8:24 p.m.: GOAL! The Blackhawks respond with aplomb, with Philipp Kurashev whacking the puck over a sprawled Thompson to give Chicago its second lead of the game.

Blackhawks 3, Capitals 2

8:21 p.m.: GOAL! Not an Ovechkin score. But an impressive finish nonetheless, with Connor McMichael slaloming past Blackhawks defenders before firing a shot through Knight’s legs. As the puck trickled towards the goal-line, Martin Ferhervary flicked it into the cage. That’s his fifth score of the years.

Blackhawks 2, Capitals 2

8:12 p.m.: GOAL! Chicago takes the lead courtesy of a Frank Nazar snipe from just outside the crease. That’s his second point of the game — he also tallied an assist on Bertuzzi’s strike.

Blackhawks 2, Capitals 1

8:11 p.m.: We’re back in action for the second frame. Ovechkin and his linemates will start the period on the bench.

End of first period: Capitals 1, Blackhawks 1

7:50 p.m.: At the end of the first period, the Caps and Blackhawks are level at one.

7:38 p.m.: GOAL! The Blackhawks pull one back via Tyler Bertuzzi. The Chicago forward corrals a pass from Landon Slaggert and slots above Charlie Lindgren to knot the game up at one.

Capitals 1, Blackhawks 1

7:35 p.m.: The Great One is in the house for tonight’s duel! Have to imagine he’ll be at the next matchup, too — assuming that Oveckin doesn’t hit the record mark tonight.

7:32 p.m.: Ovechkin’s four-game goal streak puts him in rare air. That’s the 35th such stretch in his career, the most in NHL history. With his latest strike, he surpassed Mario Lemieux for most-ever.

7:25 p.m.: Ovechkin’s strike ricocheted off the post then Spencer Knight’s back to trickle into the net. What a way to get off the marks.

7:22 p.m.: GOAL! Ovechkin fires home from short-range on his second shift.! He’s one goal away from the record!

Capitals 1, Blackhawks 0

7:15 p.m.: The puck is dropped! And away we go! Ovechkin starts on the first line alongside Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome.

7:05 p.m.: The Capitals have a handful of their stars from the 2018 squad appearing at tonight’s matchup. Devonte Smith-Pelly, Brooks Orpik, Nicklas Backstrom, Braden Holtby and TJ Oshie are the honorary captains for tonight’s matchup.

6:45 p.m.: Could Ovechkin nab a hat trick against Chicago? The bettors certainly seem to think so, at least somewhat.

6:30 p.m.: Ovechkin has scored in three straight games. He’s one goal away from securing his record 14th-straight 40-goal campaign.

6:15 p.m.: Blackhawks skipper Nick Foligno shared kind words ahead of Chicago’s matchup with the Washington.

“These are moments in time where you get to see players really become legends in the league,” Foligno said. “This is a pretty incredible number that he’s reaching and to witness for a lot of years.”

6:00 p.m.: Ovechkin and Jakob Chychrun have embraced “Bandz A Make Her Dance” throughout the season. They reprised the performance ahead of tonight’s matchup.

5:45 p.m.: Everyone’s getting on the action during Ovechkin’s goal chase, including Capital One Arena’s concessions stands. They’re offering an Ovechkin-themed pretzel, topped with Old Bay crab dip. Nothing says Russian Rocket like a Maryland staple.

Capitals vs. Blackhawks start time

• Date: Friday, April 4
• Time: 7 p.m. ET

Washington and Chicago will tout with one another at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. The match will be held at Capital One Arena in Washington DC.

MORE ALEX OVECHKIN NEWS

How to watch Alex Ovechkin goals chase today

• TV channels: NHL Network
• Live stream: Fubo

Friday’s duel between the Capitals and Blackhawks will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network. Cord-cutters can find all the action on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Washington Capitals schedule 2025

The Capitals have seven regular season games remaining. Just three of those matchups will take place at Capital One Arena, so Ovechkin’s record chase could come to a close away from home. Washington ends its season with road duels with the Islanders (April 15, 8 p.m. ET) and the Penguins (April 17, 7 p.m. ET).

Most goals scored in NHL history

Ovechkin entered Friday’s match two goals shy of Gretzky’s record 894 strike mark. He’s three goals away from breaking Gretzky’s long-held record.

Alex Ovechkin season stats 2024-25 

Ovechkin entered his age-39 season needing 41 goals to match Gretzky’s record mark and 42 to take the scoring record all for himself.

He’s needed just 59 games to bring himself on the cusp of the milestone. Despite sustaining a broken leg partway through the season, Ovechkin has 39 goals as of April 4, tied for the third-best tally in the NHL. He’s averaged 0.66 goals a game, the second-best tally of any player with at least 30 goals this season (only bested by Hart Trophy front-runner Leon Draisaitl).

With his recent scoring outburst, Ovechkin is on pace for his best goal-scoring campaign since 2021-22, when he bagged 50 snipes.

Alex Ovechkin goals count

With his latest strike against the Hurricanes on April 2, Ovechkin is up to 39 goals on the season, two short of Gretzky’s record. Given his rate of scoring thus far, he’s on pace to bag about 45 scores before the end of the season.

How close is Alex Ovechkin to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goals record? 

Ovechkin is just three goals away from breaking Gretzky’s all-time scoring mark. With a late-season flourish, he should be able to take his place atop hockey’s goal-scoring mountaintop.