Ovechkin WSH edge GR8 chase

NHL.com’s fantasy staff continues to cover the latest trends and storylines in the League through the lens of NHL EDGE puck and player tracker stats. Today, we take a look at the top 10 EDGE stats for Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals this season during THE GR8 CHASE; entering the 4 Nations Face-Off (Feb. 12-20), Ovechkin (879 career goals) is 16 goals away from passing Gretzky’s all-time NHL record (894).

1. Goals by region (left side)

Despite being limited to 39 of Washington’s 55 games this season because of a fractured fibula, Ovechkin is tied with Steven Stamkos of the Nashville Predators for the NHL lead in goals from the left-side regions (12) of the ice; that is a combination of his totals from the left point (two), left circle (six), left outside (two) and left net side (two) regions. It's worth noting Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine is one behind that total (11 in 28 games).

2. Shot speed

Ovechkin is among the forward leaders in top shot speed (98.11 miles per hour; 99th percentile) and average shot speed (67.49 mph; 97th percentile) and ranks second at the position in 90-plus mph shots (17) behind Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres (38). The Capitals have the third-most 90-plus mph shots (67) behind the Edmonton Oilers (92) and Tampa Bay Lightning (80).

3. Skating distance on power play

Ovechkin’s top power-play skating distance game of the season (1.30 miles against Ottawa on Jan. 30, 2025) ranks in the 98th percentile among forwards. Ovechkin (0.67) ranks second behind only the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl in goals per game (0.73), and six of his 26 goals have come on the power play. Ovechkin’s frequent center linemate, Dylan Strome, is among the leaders in miles skated on the power play this season (23.87; 94th percentile among forwards), as is Ovechkin’s longtime power-play defenseman John Carlson (24.12 miles; 97th percentile at position).

4. Midrange shots and goals

Ovechkin, despite missing time this season, ranks in the 97th percentile among forwards in midrange shots on goal (64) and 95th percentile at the position in midrange goals (nine).

5. Long-range shots and goals

Among forwards, Ovechkin ranks in the 95th percentile in long-range shots on goal (20) and leads the position group with four long-range goals.

6. Team goals by location

The Capitals are the only NHL team to rank in the top six of the League in goals from both high-danger areas (92; sixth) and midrange areas (60; tied for third) this season. Ovechkin has scored six high-danger goals (66th percentile).

7. Strome’s helping hand

Strome leads the Capitals in points (54 in 55 games), assists (38) and power-play points (22) this season and has assisted on 15 of Ovechkin’s 26 goals this season. Ovechkin’s teammates with the next-highest assist totals on his goals are Aliaksei Protas (eight) and defensemen Carlson and Martin Fehervary (four each).

Strome assisted on Ovechkin's first 11 goals this season and became his second teammate to assist on 11 straight Ovechkin goals (Nicklas Backstrom also had 11 straight from April 6 to Dec. 15, 2011) and the first to do it in a single season.

8. Speed and other secondary forward highlights

A big part of Washington’s surprising success, with or without Ovechkin, this season has been the depth and underlying metrics of their forward group. Here are some EDGE stats highlights of their secondary forwards, including each’s prowess in skating speed categories:

Tom Wilson
Top skating speed: 23.22 mph (94th percentile)
20-plus mph speed bursts: 124 (91st percentile)
Total skating distance: 162.85 miles (89th percentile)
Top shot speed: 90.87 mph (85th percentile)

Connor McMichael
20-plus mph speed bursts: 128 (92nd percentile)
High-danger shots on goal: 58 (96th percentile)
High-danger goals: 11 (90th percentile)

Aliaksei Protas
Top skating speed: 23.18 mph (93rd percentile)
High-danger goals: 10 (87th percentile)
Midrange goals: 8 (93rd percentile)

Pierre-Luc Dubois (acquired from Los Angeles Kings in offseason)
Top shot speed: 91.48 mph (87th percentile)
20-plus mph speed bursts: 110 (87th percentile)
High-danger shots on goal: 43 (87th percentile)

9. Goalie tandem

Capitals goalie Logan Thompson, who is 24-2-5 in 31 games this season and signed a six-year, $35.1 million contract last month after being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the offseason, leads the NHL in midrange save percentage (.944) and is second among goalies in goal differential (plus-50) behind Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets (plus-70). Along with backup Charlie Lindgren (.902 save percentage in 25 games), Washington's goaltending ranks second in team save percentage (.910; behind Jets' .915) and, together with Ovechkin's goal-scoring prowess at 39 years old, have the Capitals leading the NHL in points percentage (.727).

10. Defenseman EDGE standouts

The offseason addition of defenseman Jakob Chychrun (acquired from Ottawa Senators) and a bounce-back season from Carlson have provided Ovechkin with plenty of support for his goal chase on both ends of the ice. Both defensemen have robust EDGE stats profiles:

Jakob Chychrun:
Top skating speed: 22.52 mph (87th percentile)
20-plus mph speed bursts: 37 (82nd percentile)
Top shot speed: 98.17 mph (92nd percentile)
Average shot speed: 72.38 mph (84th percentile)
Midrange shots on goal: 45 (98th percentile)
Midrange goals: 9 (99th percentile)

John Carlson:
20-plus mph speed bursts: 42 (85th percentile)
Top shot speed: 98.51 mph (94th percentile)
Total skating distance: 175.02 miles (89th percentile)
Midrange shots on goal: 23 (91st percentile)
Long-range shots on goal: 64 (94th percentile)

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More NHL EDGE stats for WSH

Alex Ovechkin’s EDGE profile