Awareness is a powerful weapon. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin’s newest initiative with the Capitals and the V Foundation for cancer research is to help spread awareness about pediatric cancer far and wide through a new program under the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer program called “THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer!”
Last night against the New York Rangers, Ovechkin moved one step closer to the all-time record with a third-period goal that tied the game at 2-2. It was career goal No. 885 for Washington’s star, who has 32 goals in 46 games this season. While all eyes are on Gretzky’s regular-season goal-scoring record, several other goal-scoring milestones are in reach for Washington’s captain before the end of the regular season.
Ovechkin Funds Pediatric Cancer Research in New Campaign
As part of the initiative, Ovechkin plans to donate a dollar amount equal to his career goal total “from now through the remainder of his career.” Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Capitals’ parent company, will match his donations. On the first night of the program’s existence, Wednesday’s goal against New York will see two charitable donations of $885, one from Ovechkin and the other from Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin is teaming up with #HockeyFightsCancer and @TheVFoundation for Cancer Research to launch "THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer."
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 5, 2025
100% of donations to the cause will go directly toward pediatric cancer research through the V Foundation.
According to the V Foundation’s website, “the donations will fund a childhood cancer research grant through the V Foundation in Ovechkin’s honor: the Alex Ovechkin GR8 Chase Pediatric Cancer Research Grant.” Hockey fans have been encouraged to donate on the campaign’s website if they would like to contribute to the fight against cancer.
“I’m proud to join the V Foundation and support their efforts to fund lifesaving cancer research,” said Ovechkin. “Throughout my NHL career, I have met many brave kids battling cancer, and I feel it’s important to do what I can to help save more lives from this horrible disease. I want to thank the V Foundation for all their hard work, and I look forward to using my platform and doing anything I can to help further the V Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer’s mission.” The V Foundation for Cancer Research raised almost $3 million in donations for cancer research during the 2023-24 season, the organization’s first season of a partnership with the NHL through Hockey Fights Cancer.
Rangers Have Trouble Slowing Down Ovechkin
Ovechkin sits at 885 career regular-season goals. He left Madison Square Garden 10 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record after his late goal. The NHL veteran has scored four times and totaled five points in three games against the Rangers this season.
In 76 games against the Rangers, Ovechkin has 46 goals and 72 points. Those 46 tallies rank fifth among NHL teams victimized by the Washington winger in his career. The Winnipeg Jets, a former division opponent when they were the Atlanta Thrashers franchise, top the list with 56 goals given up to Ovechkin in 74 games. The Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Philadelphia Flyers are tied for second place, allowing 51 goal-celebration trips through the fist bump line.
Milestone Alert for Washington’s Captain
With 20 games left in the season, Ovechkin should have the opportunity to add to his stats and, in the process, raise some important funds for cancer research. The charitable endeavor can be one more reason on a very, very long list of reasons Washington’s captain can be inspired to reach an NHL goal milestone many people thought was untouchable before Ovechkin arrived on the scene in 2005-06.
Related: Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin Is a Man on a Mission
Gretzky played 1,487 games and scored 894 goals in his career. Ovechkin has played 1,472 games, giving him 15 games to score more goals than The Great One in fewer contests. Ovechkin’s 0.60 goals-per-game (G/GP) equals Gretzky’s scoring rate, but he’ll have to score his 895th goal before the end of the Capitals’ April 4 game against the Chicago Blackhawks to break the record in 1,486 career games.
Washington’s star is one point shy of becoming the 11th player in NHL history to reach 1,600 career points, and he would be the seventh player to accomplish the feat with one franchise. The winger’s 884 goals are the most among any player to reach the 1,600-point plateau, with Gordie Howe’s 694 goals a distant second.
Ovechkin’s next game-winning goal (GWG) will also make history. His 135 game-winners are tied with former teammate Jaromir Jagr for the most in NHL history. Ovechkin tied Jagr’s record on Feb. 23 against the Edmonton Oilers as part of his 32nd career hat trick – tied with Phil Esposito for fifth all-time.
