Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record has been temporarily halted as the Washington Capitals announced that he will be sidelined for at least the next 4-6 weeks due to a fracture in his left fibula. This injury, confirmed after further consultations with team doctors, comes while Ovechkin was already on injured reserve. He sustained the injury during a recent game against the Utah Hockey Club, following a collision with Jack McBain.

The sentiment within the Capitals' roster reflects disappointment regarding Ovechkin's injury. Winger Tom Wilson expressed this feeling, stating that the team found it hard to believe Ovechkin would miss games, considering his long-standing presence in the league. With Ovechkin's age at 39 and his current position just 26 goals away from breaking Gretzky's NHL record of 894 career goals, his absence could significantly impact the team's dynamics.

Ovechkin began the season strongly, scoring 15 goals in his first 18 games, demonstrating a scoring pace that raised hopes for breaking the long-standing record. His durability over his 19-season career has been noteworthy, as he had missed only 59 games in total, with 35 due to injury. His style of play, characterized as aggressive and fearless, has further solidified his reputation as one of the premier power forwards in the sport. While it appears increasingly challenging for Ovechkin to eclipse Gretzky's assists record of 1,963, his goal-scoring prowess remains paramount. If Ovechkin returns by late December or early January, he could still have approximately 45 games to make a run at Gretzky's goals record.