If the tip goes as Alex Ovechkin plans, his ultimate NHL recreation will happen within the postseason in pursuit of one other Stanley Cup title. However the finish is close to for the NHL’s all-time main purpose scorer, no matter how the 2026-27 season performs out for the Washington Capitals.

Ovechkin introduced on Monday, Oct. 5, this will probably be his ultimate NHL marketing campaign after 22 years within the league. It means, after 1,575 profession video games, restricted alternatives stay to look at the “Nice 8” skate towards the world’s greatest hockey gamers. Solely 82 video games are left within the common season.

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So what are the matchups you possibly can’t miss? Listed below are the ten most important video games left throughout Ovechkin’s ultimate common season with the Capitals:

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Ovechkin’s first recreation after saying this may be his final season will probably be towards the rival he is been linked to for the reason that starting of his NHL profession. The enduring debate and basic video games between Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby helped outline a era of the league.

Monday, Dec. 28 vs. Edmonton Oilers

That is the final of two video games Ovechkin will play this season towards the NHL’s greatest all-around participant, Connor McDavid, who has matched Ovechkin with three Hart Trophy wins. McDavid’s profession has mirrored Ovechkin’s in that the exceptional particular person accomplishments in the course of the first decade of his profession haven’t but resulted in a Stanley Cup title. Ovechkin received in his thirteenth season.

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Saturday, Jan. 16 vs. Colorado Avalanche

Ovechkin faces the NHL’s main purpose scorer from final season (Nathan MacKinnon) for the ultimate time. Ovechkin not too long ago named MacKinnon as the present participant greatest suited to hold on his signature fashion of yellow skate laces and a darkish, tinted visor on the ice. MacKinnon, Ovechkin and Mario Lemieux are the one gamers in NHL historical past to win a Stanley Cup, Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Calder Trophy and lead the league in targets.

This will probably be Ovechkin’s ultimate recreation towards the NHL group he grew up rooting for in Russia. The Sharks additionally characteristic Macklin Celebrini, who not too long ago signed a five-year contract extension that, on the time, made him the highest-paid participant within the league primarily based on common annual worth. Ovechkin signed the league’s first $100 million contract when he was a rising celebrity in 2008.

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That is the ultimate assembly between the Capitals and defending Stanley Cup champions, and the 2 groups have been division rivals all through Ovechkin’s NHL profession. He has confronted the Hurricanes greater than another group within the NHL (97), and has scored his second-most targets towards them (53).

Monday, March 15 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

That is Ovechkin’s ultimate recreation towards Lightning star Nikita Kucherov, who has supplanted Ovechkin as one of the best Russian hockey participant within the NHL in recent times.

Sunday, March 21 at New York Rangers

This will probably be Ovechkin’s final recreation at Madison Sq. Backyard towards a group that eradicated him from the playoffs 4 totally different instances.

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Sunday, March 28 at Toronto Maple Leafs

That is Ovechkin’s ultimate scheduled recreation within the hockey-mad confines of Toronto, which additionally has the energetic participant with one of the best shot to ultimately break Ovechkin’s targets file in Auston Matthews.

Sunday, April 4 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Ovechkin’s ultimate assembly with Crosby and the Penguins will even be the ultimate dwelling regular-season recreation of Ovechkin’s profession. The 2 famously had dueling hat tips once they met in Washington D.C. throughout a 2009 Stanley Cup playoff collection for the primary time.

Saturday, April 10 at Philadelphia Flyers

Ought to Ovechkin stay wholesome and accessible via the tip of the common season, his ultimate scheduled recreation in the meanwhile will happen on the highway towards one other acquainted foe. The Flyers have been the primary group Ovechkin confronted within the Stanley Cup playoffs again in 2008.

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: 10 must-see video games in Alex Ovechkin’s ultimate NHL common season