PHOTO COLLECTION: Ovechkin chasing down Gretzky
Alex Ovechkin has 26 goals this season and 879 career goals. The Washington Capitals captain is now 16 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record.
FILE - Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky laughs as he wears his new Hockey Hall of Fame ring during his induction ceremony at the Hall in Toronto, Nov. 22, 1999. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, File)
FILE - Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky, left, and New York Islanders Denis Potvin (5) jostle for a loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., March 26, 1988. (AP Photo/Wa Funches)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrates after his winning goal against the Ottawa Senators during overtime NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his second goal of the game during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, watches from the bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin takes a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2006, file photo, Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin, front, of Russia, shoots the puck from over his head after being checked to the ice by Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Paul Mara, center, past Coyotes goalie Brian Boucher, rear, for a goal in the third period an NHL game in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors, File)
FILE - Fans cheer as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, FIle)
FILE - Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) takes a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, follows through on a shot during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Saturday, April 13, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin holds his 798, 799, and 800th career goal pucks in the locker room next to hats collected for his hat trick after an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, follows through on a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring his 767 NHL career goals during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Tuesday, March 15, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, celebrates after scoring his third goal of an NHL hockey game during the third period against the St. Louis Blues, Saturday, April 9, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, winds up for a shot during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, FIle)
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2019, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin follows through on a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reacts during a media availability at the team's NHL hockey training camp in Arlington, Va., Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his 600th career goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Monday, March 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
In Wayne Gretzky's hometown of Brantford, Ontario, and across Canada, the Great One's loyalty and legacy are being questioned at a time the nation's independence is being threatened by U.S.
The puck drops on the first round of the NHL playoffs Saturday when Winnipeg hosts St. Louis followed by the must-see matchup of Colorado and Dallas.Â
Little pregame rituals can be sleep- or food-related. Or revolve around how they get dressed for a game. Or the way they warm up.
The Florida Panthers are two wins away from being the fifth Stanley Cup champion in the past six years to based in a U.S. state with no income tax.
Alex Ovechkin remains reticent about his future. He spoke with reporters at the Washington Capitals' media day on Thursday, a day after his 40th birthday.
