On March 18, 2025, the Washington Capitals are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting match as they take on the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. ET at the Capital One Arena. This game not only marks another chance for the Capitals, currently holding the first place spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 44 wins, 15 losses, and 8 overtime losses, to showcase their dominance but also continues the celebration of Alex Ovechkin’s chase for Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record.
Ovechkin, who currently has 887 career goals, is just eight goals shy of claiming the record. Following his recent performance on March 15, when he scored against the San Jose Sharks, excitement is soaring among fans. To commemorate this significant endeavor, the Capitals have initiated several marketing initiatives, including the installation of countdown clocks at seven key landmarks throughout the DC area. These clocks display the number of goals left for Ovechkin to tie and surpass Gretzky’s legendary tally.
These countdown clocks, marked with the message "8 GOALS TO GO," can be found at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Ben’s Chili Bowl, the Alexandria Visitor Center, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery museum store, Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and District E. Each clock not only serves as a milestone marker for Ovechkin’s chase but encourages fans to engage by sharing photos of themselves with the clocks on social media, creating a community around this historic moment.
On the ice, the Capitals are coming off of a commanding 5-1 victory against the Sharks. Washington is certainly bringing confidence to the matchup against the Red Wings, who currently sit at 10th place with records of 32-29-6. Detroit won their last game 3-0 against the Vegas Golden Knights, which adds its own layer of intensity to the contest.
Looking at the odds leading up to the game, the Capitals are favored at -192, with the Red Wings as the underdog at +159. The over/under for the night is set at six goals, indicating expectations for quite the show on the ice. Washington has proven strong this season, winning 26 of their 39 games when favored. They have shown resilience, particularly as they are projected to have about 65.8% chance of winning according to the moneyline.
Statistically speaking, the Capitals have been impressive, averaging 3.2 goals per game over their last ten matches and allowing just 2.7 goals against. This strong goal difference has played out favorably as they prepare to face the Red Wings, who have skewered their chances with inconsistent results, registering three wins and seven losses over their last ten games.
The Red Wings have found themselves as underdogs 49 times this season, managing to pull off 23 upsets. Although they’ve struggled when faced with odds longer than +159, at 5-12, there remains hope as 56.7% of their games have featured more goals than the line set for tonight's game.
Here’s where to find the Alex Ovechkin goals record countdown clocks:
- MedStar Capitals Iceplex - 627 N Glebe Road, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203
- Ben’s Chili Bowl - 1213 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
- Alexandria Visitor Center - 221 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
- Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery museum store - 8th St NW & G St NW, Washington, DC 20001
- Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar - 111 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560
- District E - 701 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
The Capitals’ efforts to not only increase engagement around Ovechkin’s pursuit of greatness but also bring fans together through this special moment has set the tone for excitement this game day. Fans are encouraged to tune in to the matchup as well as share the thrill surrounding Ovechkin’s chase for the record.
With penalties set to drop tonight, tension will be high and history might just be around the corner. Will Ovechkin break the record this season? Only time will tell as the Capitals aim to both secure victory on the night and celebrate their star player’s monumental achievement!
