Alex Ovechkin keeps inching closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record. He scored his 888th NHL goal on Thursday, but that wasn’t the only “8” of the evening. The Capitals’ game against the Flyers was full of eerie coincidences, and postgame, even Ovechkin himself felt the need to comment on it.
The Washington Capitals became the first team to reach 100 points in the 2024-25 season, also securing the first playoff spot of the year. They hit the milestone with a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, and, of course, Alex Ovechkin was at the center of attention.
Despite breaking his leg early in the season, Ovechkin has had a campaign for the ages, inching closer and closer to Gretzky’s once-untouchable record. On Thursday, he scored his 888th career goal, putting him just seven away from surpassing The Great One.
Alex Ovechkin scores 888th goals
Ovechkin, of course, wears No. 8, making goal No. 888 even more special. But that wasn’t the only eerie “8” of the night. Brandon Duhaime scored his eighth goal of the season to make it 2-0, with Anthony Beauvillier recording his eighth assist on the play. When the Capitals scored their third goal, it came from Andrew Mangiapane—who just happens to wear No. 88.
After the game, Ovechkin couldn’t help but acknowledge the strange pattern.
“There were a lot of 8s out there,” he said, per RMNB.
Head coach Spencer Carbery also took note, pointing out that the Capitals will likely face the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference team in what could be Ovechkin’s record-breaking season.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of that going on,” Carbery said. “He scores—yeah, a lot of 8s. A lot of 8s in the building tonight.”
READ MORE: Absurd hot mic moment between players in the KHL goes viral
