Capitals coach Spencer Carbery doesn’t think Alex Ovechkin will score record-breaking goal on empty-netter

Alex Ovechkin continues to close in on history…but how will he do it?

The Washington Capitals captain potted the 883rd goal of his NHL career on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames, putting him 11 behind tying the legendary Wayne Gretzky for most goals in league history.

However, much has been made about how Ovechkin is closing in on the previously untouchable record of 894 goals. The Russian winger had a huge game this past Sunday, scoring a hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers. The third goal for the GR8 came as an empty-netter.

This season, Ovechkin is tied for the most empty-net goals with Carolina Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen, as both players have scored seven times with no goalie to stop them.

Yet, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery doesn’t believe Ovi will break Gretzky’s record on an empty net.

“I haven’t talked to O about this yet,” Carbery told The Junkies radio show. “But this is my guess, is that when it gets to that point, I don’t think he’s going to want to break it with an empty netter.”

Carbery was also asked whether it would be better if Ovechkin broke the record in Washington, D.C., or on the road.

“You would [like for it to happen at home], but you can’t manufacture that. To try and manufacture that, I just don’t think it makes any sense. You hope it organically happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I don’t think you can script that or try to plan for that. And unfortunately, just looking ahead, we play a lot of road games in April to finish our season.”

Scoring goals into an empty cage is nothing new to Ovechkin. Since bursting onto the scene after the 2004-05 lockout, Ovi holds the record for most empty-net goals, scoring 64 times without contestation from a goaltender. The man he surpassed? The Great One, of course, who scored 56 empty-net goals in his 20 seasons in the NHL.

It wouldn’t totally be out of the question if Ovechkin scored the record-breaking tally on an empty net. He scored the 802nd goal of his career without a tender between the pipes, surpassing Gordie Howe–though No. 8 didn’t seem thrilled to score in that fashion.

Also, Gretzky’s incredible mark of scoring 50 goals in 39 games during the 1981-82 season came on an empty-net. The 500th goal of No. 99’s career also fell into an unguarded goal.

The Capitals (38-12-8) have 24 games remaining this season. To reach the milestone before the playoffs, Ovi must average a goal every other game.