Alex Ovechkin moves into top 10 of NHL’s all-time points list after four-point game against Canadiens

Alex Ovechkin moved into the top 10 of the NHL’s all-time points list with a four-point effort (3g, 1a) against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

Ovechkin officially leaped over Joe Sakic (625g-1,016a–1,641p in 1,378 GP) for 10th all-time when he recorded his 1,642nd point (906g and 736a in 1,512 GP) on his second goal in the game. He would add one more to his total with an empty-net goal that completed his 33rd career hat trick, finishing the night with 1,643 career points.

Ovechkin got the point to topple Sakic with just 3:57 remaining in regulation, firing home a fantastic feed from center Dylan Strome. The marker was the first of three unanswered scored by the Capitals at the end of the third period, delivering the club an impressive 8-4 road win.

Ovechkin now has 20 points (10g, 10a) in 21 games this season. The 40-year-old winger is tied with Strome and Tom Wilson for the Capitals’ overall team lead in scoring.

NHL all-time points leaders

Rank
Player
Games played
Points

1
Wayne Gretzky
1,487
2,857

2
Jaromir Jagr
1,733
1,921

3
Mark Messier
1,756
1,887

4
Gordie Howe
1,767
1,850

5
Ron Francis
1,731
1,798

6
Marcel Dionne
1,348
1,771

7
Steve Yzerman
1,514
1,755

8
Mario Lemieux
915
1,723

9
Sidney Crosby
1,371
1,708

10
Alex Ovechkin
1,512
1,643

Ovechkin’s long-time rival, Sidney Crosby, is next on the list and the only other active player in the top 10. Among retired players, Mario Lemieux is the next player that Ovechkin can track down, although he’ll need another 80 points this season to tie him.

The four-point game to pass Sakic was Ovechkin’s 33rd career game with four or more points and first since December 13, 2022, when he recorded an assist and scored a hat trick to reach the 800-goal mark.