Why did Alex Ovechkin pass up empty-netter? Capitals star refuses to break Wayne Gretzky’s record without goalie

Alex Ovechkin scores goals in a variety of ways. He laces one-timers from the leftmost face-off circle. He slips rolling pucks past outstretched goaltenders. He flicks shots from the center his own blue-line when the net is agape.

The 39-year old is now tied with Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s greatest-ever goal-scorer. He didn’t reach such a reputation by turning away scoring opportunities.

And yet, with sole possession of the league’s scoring record beckoning, the Capitals star did just that. Cameras caught Ovechkin turning away head coach Spencer Carbery when the tactician offered to put the 39-year old marksman back in at the end of Washington’s 5-3 win over the Blackhawks.

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Chicago, down 4-3 at the time of the clip, pulled goaltender Spencer Knight. Ovechkin, the most prolific empty net goal-scorer in league history, could have returned to the ice and given himself a chance to climb beyond Gretzky on the NHL’s scoring charts. He opted against doing so, setting the stage for a Caps star of the future to make history in the process.

Here’s what you need to know.

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Why did Alex Ovechkin pass up empty-netter?

With 1:43 left in the third period, Washington leading by one goal and Ovechkin having already slotted twice, Chicago took a timeout. Ovechkin and his line-mates were offered the chance to return to the ice by Carberry. But after travailing across the ice for a short period of time, Ovechkin returned to his bench post. He didn’t want an empty-netter. He let Carberry know it, too.

Alex Ovechkin told Spencer Carberry he didn’t want to score on an empty net for 895. A true legend 👏 pic.twitter.com/64LiP1XfNk

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 5, 2025

Rookie forward Ryan Leonard took to the ice in his stead. And after corralling a loose puck, it was Leonard whose name was in the lights; he outraced his marker and slotted from short-range to collect his first-career NHL goal. 

Scoring your first career goal in front of friends and family in your new home is simply PRICELESS!

Congrats, Leno! pic.twitter.com/RDTjtSEMor

— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 5, 2025

Ovechkin explained his decision during a joint presser with Gretzky after the game. The Great One watched along as the Russian Rocket equaled his legendary milestone. He thought he could’ve gotten more, too.

“I tell [Carberry] I don’t want an empty net,” Ovechkin said.

“I’ll take every empty net goal I could get,” Gretzky replied with a chuckle.

Alexander Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky talking about Ryan Leonard scoring his first career goal on an empty netter is hilarious cc:@Buccigross pic.twitter.com/idqJqVqhg3

— Dan Why-Ner (@ReallyDanWeiner) April 5, 2025

Ovechkin had ample opportunities to slot past Blackhawks netminder Spencer Knight when he did trot back onto the tundra. He launched three shots towards Knight’s cage. All three were gobbled up by the former Panthers prospect, much to Washington fans’ chagrin.

Caps fans were BOOING Spencer Knight after every save he made on Ovi going for goal no. 895 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/CcLCby3QxN

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 5, 2025

In the end, Ovechkin had to settle for a tie with Gretzky … for now. He made sure to pay tribute to his goal-scoring predecessor when he skated off the ice for the final time on Friday. 

Ovi bows to Wayne. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/BZgdu9yjFO

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 5, 2025

Ovechkin’s next chance at breaking the goal-scoring record will come on Sunday when the Capitals face off against the Islanders away from home. Given his goal-scoring form as of late — he’s struck in each of Washington’s past four games — there’s a good chance he won’t be level with the Great One for very long.

MORE ALEX OVECHKIN RECORD CHASE NEWS

How many empty-net goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin is arguably hockey’s greatest-ever goal-scorer. So it’s little surprise that he’s flaunted a prowess for the empty net strike, too.

As of April 1, Ovechkin has 65 empty-net snipes. That’s by far the most in NHL history, besting second-place Wayne Gretzky’s mark by eight. No other player has more than 40.

Ovechkin’s most prolific empty net goal-scoring campaign came in 2021-22 when he bagged nine tallies with the net gaping — a joint NHL record. That figure represented 18 percent of his total scores on the year.

He very well could shatter that mark in 2025. Through 33 games, Ovechkin has eight empty net goals, good for an 82-game pace of 16 come the end of the year. Ovechkin missed some time due to injury, so he’s not likely to quite hit that mark. But assuming he plays the remaining six games of the season, Ovechkin is currently on track to sink about nine empty-netters.

NHL empty-net goal leaders