One of Wayne Gretzky’s records looks increasingly likely to be broken this season.
On Jan. 25, 2024, Alexander Ovechkin had eight goals and 29 points in 43 games played. It looked like Father Time caught up with the Great Eight. However, he scored 23 goals and 36 points over his final 36 games, helping the Washington Capitals make the postseason.
Coming into the season, Ovechkin had 853 goals, needing 41 goals to match Gretzky’s record of 894 goals. The Capitals had a busy off-season, acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jakob Chychrun through trade, while signing Matt Roy in free agency. In turn, they sit third in the Metropolitan Division with a 12-4-1 record in 17 games, one point back of the Carolina Hurricanes.
A byproduct of the Capitals’ success is that Ovechkin is playing like he’s 29 years old, not 39 years old. Thanks to a hat trick on Sunday in a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, Ovechkin now has 13 goals. Not only is he 29 goals away from breaking the goal record, but the 39-year-old is tied for the league lead for goals with Sam Reinhart and Leon Draisaitl. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
ALEX OVECHKIN SIMPLY CANNOT BE STOPPED.
His 31st career hat trick seals the deal in a 5-2 W 🧢 <a href="https://t.co/oCJuYJGmy0">pic.twitter.com/oCJuYJGmy0</a>
&mdash; B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1858356991028310158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Ovechkin is currently on pace for 62 goals, which would be his second-best goal-scoring season. If there weren’t two lockouts and a COVID-shortened season, Ovechkin would’ve hit 1,000 goals pretty comfortably.
<h2>Ryan Reaves suspended for five games</h2>
On Sunday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Ryan Reaves has been suspended for five games for an illegal check to the head of Darnell Nurse on Saturday evening.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Toronto’s Ryan Reaves has been suspended for five games for an illegal check to the head against Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse. <a href="https://t.co/GyVuA2TLmG">https://t.co/GyVuA2TLmG</a>
&mdash; NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/1858254667408351296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The play occurred early in the second period, as Nurse rounded behind his net and bobbled the puck. Reaves did not attempt to slow down, hitting Nurse in the head with his shoulder. Nurse was left bloodied and missed the rest of the game, while Reaves received a match penalty.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
EDM TOR G18. November 16, 2024. Ryan Reaves hit on Darnell Nurse. 🎥: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/ncGAuzSZqP">pic.twitter.com/ncGAuzSZqP</a>
&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1857956897908994056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Thankfully, Nurse isn’t expected to be out long-term. According to Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, the left-shot defenceman is set to be out for 5-10 days, missing the Oilers next two games at a minimum.
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Kris Knoblauch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oilers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oilers</a> saying Darnell Nurse will be out for around 5-10 days. 
“Obviously there was a big scare there..since then, he’s progressed really well, he’s doing as good as he can.” <a href="https://twitter.com/TSNHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSNHockey</a>
&mdash; Kenzie Lalonde (@KenzieTSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenzieTSN/status/1858561423510577440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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It’s a big loss for the Oilers, as Nurse munches minutes for the team. Not only that, but he was coming off a game where he scored two goals and an assist, including the overtime winner. However, it seems like the worst-case scenario was avoided here.
<h2>Calle Järnkrok underwent surgery and is out month-to-month</h2>
Sticking with Toronto Maple Leafs news, the team announced Monday morning that Calle Järnkrok is out month-to-month after groin surgery and a sports hernia surgery.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Maple Leafs F Calle Järnkrok underwent groin and sports hernia surgery today and is listed as month-to-month.
&mdash; Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1858548026182115522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Järnkrok has yet to play a game this season for the Leafs. However, he scored 10 goals and 21 points in 52 games last season while playing all seven of the Leafs’ post-season games. In 2022-23, Järnkrok scored a career-high 20 goals and 39 points and consistently scored double-digit goals.
The Swedish-born forward played 17 games with the Flames during the 2021-22 season after a trade before the trade deadline. He had four assists to end the regular season but scored a goal and four points in the Flames’ 12 postseason games in 2022.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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This year, a devastating wildfire swept through Jasper, destroying 30% of the community and leaving families with financial and logistical challenges. Nation Gear has teamed up with Jasper Minor Hockey to make a difference, ensuring every child in Jasper can stay active and play the game we all love. Net proceeds from each &#8220;For the Love of the Game&#8221; t-shirts and crewnecks will go directly toward covering registration fees, travel expenses, and essential needs to keep young athletes on the ice. Help us rebuild the heart of Jasper through hockey – visit NationGear.ca today

One of Wayne Gretzky’s records looks increasingly likely to be broken this season.

On Jan. 25, 2024, Alexander Ovechkin had eight goals and 29 points in 43 games played. It looked like Father Time caught up with the Great Eight. However, he scored 23 goals and 36 points over his final 36 games, helping the Washington Capitals make the postseason.

Coming into the season, Ovechkin had 853 goals, needing 41 goals to match Gretzky’s record of 894 goals. The Capitals had a busy off-season, acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jakob Chychrun through trade, while signing Matt Roy in free agency. In turn, they sit third in the Metropolitan Division with a 12-4-1 record in 17 games, one point back of the Carolina Hurricanes.

A byproduct of the Capitals’ success is that Ovechkin is playing like he’s 29 years old, not 39 years old. Thanks to a hat trick on Sunday in a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, Ovechkin now has 13 goals. Not only is he 29 goals away from breaking the goal record, but the 39-year-old is tied for the league lead for goals with Sam Reinhart and Leon Draisaitl. 

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1858356991028310158

Ovechkin is currently on pace for 62 goals, which would be his second-best goal-scoring season. If there weren’t two lockouts and a COVID-shortened season, Ovechkin would’ve hit 1,000 goals pretty comfortably.
<h2>Ryan Reaves suspended for five games</h2>
On Sunday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Ryan Reaves has been suspended for five games for an illegal check to the head of Darnell Nurse on Saturday evening.

https://twitter.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/1858254667408351296

&nbsp;

The play occurred early in the second period, as Nurse rounded behind his net and bobbled the puck. Reaves did not attempt to slow down, hitting Nurse in the head with his shoulder. Nurse was left bloodied and missed the rest of the game, while Reaves received a match penalty.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1857956897908994056

Thankfully, Nurse isn’t expected to be out long-term. According to Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, the left-shot defenceman is set to be out for 5-10 days, missing the Oilers next two games at a minimum.

https://twitter.com/KenzieTSN/status/1858561423510577440

&nbsp;

It’s a big loss for the Oilers, as Nurse munches minutes for the team. Not only that, but he was coming off a game where he scored two goals and an assist, including the overtime winner. However, it seems like the worst-case scenario was avoided here.
<h2>Calle Järnkrok underwent surgery and is out month-to-month</h2>
Sticking with Toronto Maple Leafs news, the team announced Monday morning that Calle Järnkrok is out month-to-month after groin surgery and a sports hernia surgery.

https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1858548026182115522

&nbsp;

Järnkrok has yet to play a game this season for the Leafs. However, he scored 10 goals and 21 points in 52 games last season while playing all seven of the Leafs’ post-season games. In 2022-23, Järnkrok scored a career-high 20 goals and 39 points and consistently scored double-digit goals.

The Swedish-born forward played 17 games with the Flames during the 2021-22 season after a trade before the trade deadline. He had four assists to end the regular season but scored a goal and four points in the Flames’ 12 postseason games in 2022.

Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
<h1>Help support Jasper minor hockey at Nation Gear</h1>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-133298" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2099/08/Jasper_Article_1.png" alt="" width="728" height="404" />
This year, a devastating wildfire swept through Jasper, destroying 30% of the community and leaving families with financial and logistical challenges. Nation Gear has teamed up with Jasper Minor Hockey to make a difference, ensuring every child in Jasper can stay active and play the game we all love. Net proceeds from each "For the Love of the Game" t-shirts and crewnecks will go directly toward covering registration fees, travel expenses, and essential needs to keep young athletes on the ice. Help us rebuild the heart of Jasper through hockey – visit NationGear.ca today

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