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Around the NHL: Alexander Ovechkin scored his 860th goal on Sunday
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Nov 4, 2024, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 4, 2024, 08:39 EST
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As is the case with many league stats, Wayne Gretzky has the most goals in a career in the history of the league with 894.
However, it’s almost a guarantee that Alexander Ovechkin will surpass him before the end of his career, perhaps even as soon as this season. On Sunday, the 39-year-old scored his seventh goal of the season to bring him to 860 goals as the Washington Capitals fell 4-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Last season, it looked as if his chances of beating Gretzky’s record were slowly slipping away, as the Great Eight had just eight goals through his first 43 games. However, he finished the final 36 games scoring 23 goals to bring him ever so close to the record, and Ovechkin’s second half even helped the Capitals make the postseason (where they were promptly swept by the New York Rangers.)
After filling some roster holes in the off-season, the Capitals are off to a terrific start with an 8-3-0 record through their first 11 games, third in the Metropolitan Division and only one point behind the division-leading Rangers.
Ovechkin needs just 35 more goals to break the record and has 71 games to do so.

Philip Broberg left Saturday’s game against the Leafs

On Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues defenceman Philip Broberg left the game after Mitch Marner fell on his leg.
It’s unclear the extent of Broberg’s injury, but the left-shot defenceman is off to a terrific start to his season. In 12 games with the Blues, the 23-year-old has two goals and nine points, already surpassing his career-high season in 2022-23 where he had a goal and eight points in 46 games with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Blues acquired the defenceman, as well as Dylan Holloway, from the not-so-often-used offer sheet. With the Oilers being in a precarious cap situation for the next few seasons, they elected not to match the contract, acquiring a second-round and third-round pick while losing two players who were first-round picks.
Instead, the Oilers decided to get older and slower while significantly weakening their defence, as they moved Cody Ceci to the San Jose Sharks for Ty Emberson.

Artturi Lehknoen activated from the injured reserve by the Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Sunday morning that they’ve activated Artturi Lehkonen from the Injured Reserve.
Lehkonen, along with quite a few other forwards, have been sorely missed by the Avalanche, as they’ve started the season off with a 5-7-0 record for 10 points, second-fewest in the tough Central Division.
Last season, the 29-year-old left winger scored 16 goals and 34 points in 45 games, along with six goals and 11 points in 11 postseason games. His career-high came in 2022-23 with the Avalanche, as he scored 21 goals and 51 points in 64 games. Lehkonen was also part of the Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022.
Although Lehkonen will surely help, the Avalanche’s offensive depth has been tested this season. Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin remain out due to injury and suspension respectively, but Jonathan Drouin, Miles Wood, and Ross Colton all remain out of the lineup. The latter is the team’s leading goal scorer but will be out for at least six weeks with a broken foot.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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