Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to reach 900 career goals, scoring in the second period during a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on November 5, 2025. The milestone came on a backhand shot that made it 2-0, marking his 138th game-winning goal. Goaltender Jordan Binnington briefly attempted to hide the puck before returning it.
Alex Ovechkin etched his name further into NHL history on November 5, 2025, at Capital One Arena, scoring his 900th career goal against the St. Louis Blues. The 40-year-old Capitals captain netted the milestone on a backhand from the right side of the net at 24.77 mph, doubling Washington's lead to 2-0 in the second period. This was Ovechkin's third goal of the 2025-26 season in 13 games and his fourth against Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.
The game ended in a convincing 6-1 win for the Capitals, with Ovechkin's goal standing as his NHL-record 138th game-winner. Binnington, who allowed four goals on 15 shots before being pulled, scooped up the puck and tucked it into his pants, drawing attention from linesman Michel Cormier, who ensured its return to Ovechkin. Binnington later joked about the incident, saying, "Yeah, I figured I basically had an assist on the goal there, turning the puck over. [I] didn't think he'd mind sharing it. I had full intention to give it back to him." Ovechkin, aware of the moment, responded with a laugh: "Yeah, I just saw it. I'm not going to comment."
This achievement follows Ovechkin's record-breaking 895th goal on April 6, 2025, against the New York Islanders, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's mark. Ovechkin, in his 21st NHL season, leads the league in power-play goals (326), game-opening goals (150), and overtime goals (27). He ties Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the most 50-goal seasons (nine) and holds records for 40-goal (14) and 30-goal seasons (19). His shot speed ranks in the 97th percentile (top speed 93.21 mph, average 63.43 mph), and he excels in midrange shots (18 this season). With 977 total goals including playoffs, Ovechkin approaches Gretzky's combined record of 1,016.
The Capitals' strong supporting cast, ranking third in 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage (54.9), bolsters Ovechkin's offense, while goaltender Logan Thompson has been key to their success.