By Joe Pohoryles Two months ago, I predicted Alex Ovechkin would pass Gordie Howe for the No. 2 spot on the NHL all-time goal list between Dec. 23-31, with a specific prediction of Dec. 29 against the Ottawa Senators. After reaching 800 on Dec. 13 with a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks, it seemedContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky XVIII: One Man in Sight”
Tag Archives: Gordie Howe
Chasing Gretzky XVII: The Gr800
By Joe Pohoryles It could happen tonight. Alex Ovechkin, shortly after becoming the third player in NHL history to reach 800 career goals, could potentially tie and pass Gordie Howe (801) for second on the all-time list. Poetically, it would be against the Detroit Red Wings, the team Howe played with for 25 years. ThisContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky XVII: The Gr800”
Chasing Gretzky XVI: Howe’s it Going?
By Joe Pohoryles After a slow start to his 18th NHL season, Alex Ovechkin is kicking it up a notch. He failed to score in the first three games of the season for the first time since 2012-13, where he ended up finishing with a league-leading 32 goals in the 48-game lockout season. Now heContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky XVI: Howe’s it Going?”
Chasing Gretzky XIV: Three More Records at Stake
Due to my Frozen Four coverage in Boston this weekend, I didn’t have time to get around to this month’s installment until after it ended, which is why this is coming out slightly later than the usual eighth of each month. There will be a full-season wrap up in May. By Joe Pohoryles Just 10Continue reading “Chasing Gretzky XIV: Three More Records at Stake”
Chasing Gretzky XIII: Lowering the Average
By Joe Pohoryles Entering the first season of Alex Ovechkin’s new five-year contract, 33 was the magic number. To break Wayne Gretzky’s record in five seasons, Ovechkin would have to average 33 goals across each of those seasons. He’s now at 34 this season. For every goal he scores above 33 this year, the lowerContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky XIII: Lowering the Average”
Chasing Gretzky XI: Power Play GOAT + What’s Ahead
By Joe Pohoryles 275. Despite playing on what’s been the Washington Capitals’ worst power play in recent memory, Alex Ovechkin passed Dave Andreychuk to move into sole possession of first on the all-time power play goals list, with 275 in his career. Last April, I predicted Ovechkin would break that record 34 games into theContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky XI: Power Play GOAT + What’s Ahead”
Chasing Gretzky 10: Capitals Insiders Special
By Joe Pohoryles 10 editions of Chasing Gretzky; what a milestone. I expect 30-40+ of these when all is said and done, but by finally reaching double-digits, I decided to do something special. As part of a separate project for my college sports journalism class, I had the opportunity to speak to two Caps reportersContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky 10: Capitals Insiders Special”
Chasing Gretzky 8: The Final Countdown
By Joe Pohoryles Alex Ovechkin is here to stay! The Great 8 signed a five-year/$47.5 million deal that will pay him $9.5 million per year until the 2025-26 season. He’ll be nearly 41 years old by the end of the deal, which is a lot of term and money to dedicate to a player ofContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky 8: The Final Countdown”
Chasing Gretzky IV: The Road Gets Bumpier
By: Joe Pohoryles With the NHL well underway and this being the first “eighth” of the season, the Chasing Gretzky series is finally back. Before the pandemic hit, Alex Ovechkin was a month removed from arguably the greatest scoring stretch of his career, and was contending with Boston’s David Pastrnak and Toronto’s Auston Matthews forContinue reading “Chasing Gretzky IV: The Road Gets Bumpier”
The Wildcard 