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Here's which game Alex Ovechkin is favored to break Wayne Gretzky's goals record

Prince J. Grimes   For The Win

Alex Ovechkin is just a hat trick away from passing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time career goals leader. With his 39th goal of the season in Wednesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes Ovi sits at 892 for his career -- two from tying Gretzky's record of 894. And eerily, on a similar games played pace.

The Washington Capitals still have seven games left in the season, so it's almost a certainty Ovechkin clinches the record before the year is up (he has -425 odds at DraftKings to get it done). But which game will it happen? Betting odds still leave that up to interpretation, because the Caps have two games left against the two teams he's favored to break the record against.

Which team will Ovechkin score his 895th goal against? (DraftKings)

For betting purposes, all you need to know is Ovechkin is favored to pass Gretzky in a game against Columbus (+140). Those odds don't help to drill down an exact date because the Caps play Columbus on back-to-back days, but they do narrow the options down to either April 12 or April 13.

However, as good of a story as that would be (Ovechkin scored his first career goal against Columbus), the Great 8's pace over the last few games might actually add value to the Islanders, who have the second-best odds at +230. Ovechkin has a goal in three straight games and four of his last five. If he continues that tear, we won't be waiting much longer than Washington's April 6 game against New York. Certainly not until they meet again on April 15.

Capitals remaining schedule

  • April 4 vs. Blackhawks
  • April 6 at Islanders
  • April 10 vs. Hurricanes
  • April 12 at Blue Jackets
  • April 13 vs. Blue Jackets
  • April 15 at Islanders
  • April 17 at Penguins

For a decent long-shot bet, Ovechkin has +3000 odds to get it done Friday against the Blackhawks, which would obviously require a hat trick.

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