Alex Ovechkin Goal Hunt ‘Not A Distraction’ For Rangers

Alex Ovechkin is just 11 goals away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in NHL history and surpassing Wayne Gretzky. 

With the New York Rangers set to play the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night, all eyes will be on Ovechkin. 

This goal hunt has become a big media spectacle, but Peter Laviolette does not believe it’s a distraction and made clear that the Rangers are not focused on Ovechkin’s quest.

“That’s not a distraction for us,” Laviolette said. “I don’t know what it is for them over there, but for us it’s about the game tonight. It would be great for him to not push forward in that race. That’s about the only way we’ll talk about it when it comes up in a power play meeting, or how we defend or things we do. 

“Obviously he’s a tremendous goal scorer. From a hockey standpoint, we talk about it, but not necessarily from a race standpoint.”

Laviolette coached Ovechkin with the Capitals for three seasons from 2020-2023.