Can The Nice Eight catch the Nice One in 2024-25?
The once-unthinkable is now an inevitability, although when Alexander Ovechkin scores his 895th NHL objective, thus passing Wayne Gretzky for essentially the most in NHL historical past, remains to be up for debate.
Ovechkin is scorching on Gretzky’s heels, sitting simply 20 targets of changing into the brand new champion after his empty-net objective in opposition to the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 23. With about two-and-a-half months left within the common season, Ovechkin’s probabilities of breaking the file are slim however doable.
With that in thoughts, BetMGM has begun taking wagers for whether or not Ovi will go Gretzky this season. Right here’s a have a look at the percentages and the place that stands as of Jan. 24.
Alex Ovechkin Passing Wayne Gretzky Odds
Will Alex Ovechkin go Wayne Gretzky this season:
Alex Ovechkin 2024-25 goal-scoring tempo
When Ovechkin broke his leg in a knee-on-knee collision with Jack McBain in mid-November it seemed like his chase of Gretzky’s NHL file objective whole of 894 would get pushed again for one season.
In any case, the 39-year-old Capitals captain entered this season 42 targets shy of 895 and was slated to overlook four-to-six weeks after sustaining the damage after his encounter with the Utah Hockey Membership defenseman.
However they are saying the Russian machine by no means breaks, and despite the fact that he in the end missed about five-and-a-half weeks with the damage, Ovechkin has picked up proper the place he left off post-injury. Ovechkin, who had scored 5 targets in two video games earlier than his unlucky encounter with McBain, has seven targets in 14 video games since returning in Toronto on Dec. 28.
So despite the fact that he missed 16 video games, which stands as essentially the most he ever will sit out in a single season, and isn’t getting any youthful, Ovechkin stays on a 45-goal tempo for this season.
If Ovi hit 45 targets, it might be essentially the most for him in a single season since he struck for 50 targets in 2021-22. It additionally means he would go Gretzky by three targets getting into the offseason.
Will Ovi High Gretzky in 2024-25?
Ovechkin is forward of the 42-goal tempo required, however the stress will proceed to mount on him as he approaches Gretzky’s file, despite the fact that The Nice One is supportive of Ovi’s pursuit.
Ovechkin has been much less prolific on the facility play this season, with simply 5 man-advantage targets this yr. However he has accounted for that by scoring 5 empty-net targets, which is tied for third-most within the NHL this yr and has boosted his NHL-record whole to 62 as of Jan. 24.
Detractors might name Ovechkin’s empty-net-goal binge low-cost, particularly since he has 23 empty netters because the begin of the 2021-22 season, however Gretzky is second on the checklist of empty-net targets (56).
Ovechkin is on a 0.5 goals-per-game tempo since getting back from damage, and if he stays on that tempo he’ll end three targets wanting Gretzky – since Washington has 34 video games left as of Jan. 24.
Nonetheless, with Washington coach Spencer Carbery throwing Ovechkin on the ice for end-of-game eventualities, and the Caps successful a ton of video games – they lead the NHL in factors (71) as of Jan. 24 – he might make up floor by scoring empty-net targets.
Prediction: Ovechkin scores in Recreation 82, in opposition to his arch-nemeses Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, on April 17.
