March 21, 2023, 7:57 PM
Alex Ovechkin has toppled one Wayne Gretzky record on his way to breaking another.
The Washington Capitals captain scored his 40th goal of the season in the first period Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, setting a new NHL record for 40-goal campaigns with 13.
Ovechkin passed Gretzky — who had 12 — on the all-time list. Mario Lemieux and Marcel Dionne are the only other players to do it 10 times.
The goal gives Ovechkin 820 in his career, leaving him only 74 behind Gretzky for the all-time record. The Capitals and the NHL honoured Ovechkin for scoring his 802nd goal, to pass Gordie Howe for second-all-time, with a ceremony before Tuesday’s game.