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New York Rangers rival receives devastating news while on the hunt to break Wayne Gretzkys record

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Joshua Deeds
November 19, 2024  (7:01 PM)
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The New York Rangers Metropolitan Division rival, Washington Capitals looked to be on the upswing lately.

Not only are they one of the best teams in the Metro, but franchise player Alex Ovechkin has been making waves.

He's inched closer and closer to the Wayne Gretzky career goal record. With only 27 left to go, tragedy has struck.

Ovechkin has 868 goals and needs 27 more to break Gretzky's record of 894 career goals. That record has stood since Gretzky retired in 1999.

Ovechkin is listed week-to-week as the injury occurred when Utah forward Jack McBain had hit Ovechkin in the leg, during the third period.

McBain inadvertently hit Ovechkin in the leg, and the Capitals star fell to the ice at 5:30 of the third period.

Ovechkin struggled to get to the bench, tested the leg with a short twirl on the ice during a TV timeout then went to the dressing room. He didn't return.

Doctor Harjas Grewal commented on the forward's knee-on-knee contact and lamented the fact it didn't look good for Ovechkin.

«Concern is an MCL injury for Ovechkin,» Dr. Grewal posted on X (formerly Twitter). «Time off depends on grade, and although it is hard to gauge grade by video, there wasn't an extreme amount of inward stress so hopefully grade 1 or 2 and max four to six weeks out. Will add that a torn ACL is also possible but highly unlikely (in my opinion).»

The current status of Ovechkin's injury doesn't lend well to his attempt to overcome Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record which stands at 94 currently. As Ovechkin is only 27 goals away from the record after recording 5 goals in the past two games, including a hat-trick against the Vegas Golden Knights Sunday he may have to wait until next season to beat it.

Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals have a new life under Head Coach Spencer Carberry and ultimately looked to be a bright spot, as Ovechkin's storyline is one of the best to follow.

Here's hoping his recovery is quick and without any complications afterward.

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