NHL's goal leader is Wayne Gretzky: Alex Ovechkin and others who follow him on top 20 list

Wayne Gretzky is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, but Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has a chance to pass him.

Gretzky, who played from 1979-99, leads the way with 894 regular-season NHL goals. Ovechkin, who set an NHL record last season by hitting the 40-goal mark for the 13th time in his career (he had been tied with Gretzky), ranks second with 827.

Ovechkin passed former No. 2 scorer Gordie Howe during the 2022-23 season and has two years left on his contract after the 2023-24 season, giving him time to break a record once thought unbreakable.

Where does Alex Ovechkin stand in the goal-scoring race?

Ovechkin needs to average 24 goals a season to tie Gretzky's record. This season, he started slowly, including no shots on goal in consecutive games for the first time in his career. Another first: only two goals in his first 12 games.

He scored three goals over his next three games before being shut out in his last four games. He has five goals in 19 games this season and is on pace for 21. The Capitals play the third game of their five-game trip Thursday night in Anaheim.

The Capitals' power play, which is missing injured Nicklas Backstrom, is clicking at a league-worst 5.7%. Ovechkin, the all-time power-play goal leader, has one this season.

Who are the NHL's top all-time goal scorers?

The top 20 NHL all-time goal scorers have all topped 600 goals. All are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin and Jaromir Jagr, who's still an active player in the Czech Republic.

1. Wayne Gretzky,  894 goals in 1,487 games

2. Alex Ovechkin, 827 goals in 1,366 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

18. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

19. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

20. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games