Insider Drops Stunning Analysis of Ovechkin's Record Chase

To say that Alex Ovechkin‘s chase of Wayne Gretzky‘s all-time goal-scoring mark has captivated Washington is a massive understatement.

According to NHL insider Bruce Boudreau, one of Ovi's former head coaches and now an analyst on their pregame and postgame broadcasts, Ovechkin has risen to the absolute pinnacle of Washington sports history, as he told the crew at NHL Network Radio on SiriusXM:

I'm telling you, that city is electric right now. When he scores a goal, it's the cameramen, it's the people in the studio, they're all jumping up and down. It's gonna be crazy. Sometimes it's hard to believe. He is easily the most popular athlete that has ever hit Washington, DC. And I'm talking football, baseball and basketball included.

Keep in mind, this a city that's hosted such sports legends as Walter Johnson, Josh Gibson and Juan Soto in baseball, Michael Jordan in basketball (at the end of his career), Patrick Ewing in college basketball, Sammy Baugh in the NFL and boxer Sugar Ray Leonard.

Boudreau coached Alexander the Great in Washington for five years earlier in his career, and knows of what he speaks. He added that the amount of Ovechkin jerseys that he sees on the streets around town is off the charts.

And after scoring #892 to put Ovi two back of tying and a hat trick away from passing Gretzky, this stat is pretty insane:

Pretty amazing stat here

Gretzky 1487 games 894 goals
Ovechkin 1485 games 892 goals
— David Amber (@DavidAmber) April 3, 2025

Even in Carolina, the shrieking in the crowd Wednesday night when he popped #892 could be heard clearly.

THREE. GOALS. LEFT. 😱

Alex Ovechkin is getting closer and closer to the all-time NHL goals record 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OwXxNK2F3o
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 3, 2025

"I think it's gonna be an epic night when he does break it," concludes Boudreau. "And I'm certainly hoping I'm in the arena when he does."

The Caps have six games left in the regular season, starting with Friday night, when they host the defensively-challenged Chicago Blackhawks. Imagine if it happens on a hat trick. After that, they play Sunday on Long Island, and then next Thursday at home vs. the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ovechkin has 39 goals this season in 59 games, especially shocking after the 39-year-old had to sit out 16 contests early on with a broken leg.