Auston Matthews is already among the NHL‘s most prolific goal scorers, but one comparison continues to separate him from Alex Ovechkin: durability.
LeafsLatest shared a post on X comparing the two stars through their first 689 NHL games. Ovechkin scored 428 goals during that span, while Matthews had 425. Matthews did it with a shooting percentage 2.9% higher than Ovechkin’s mark.
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The post also noted that Ilya Kovalchuk ranked third, 63 goals behind Matthews. That gap highlights how rare the scoring pace of both Matthews and Ovechkin has been since 2000.
One fan argued that Matthews could have reached 500 goals by now without his back injury, writing, “Without the back injury Papi is pushing 500.”
A fan blamed former coach Craig Berube, questioning, “Where would Matthews be if he didn’t play for Berube the last 2 seasons?”
Other fans focused on the larger concern surrounding Matthews’ career.
“Very very very little chance he ends up being as durable as Big O has,” a fan wrote.
Another fan mentioned the same, writing, “The thing is if he doesn’t get hurt he’s probably 40-60 goals ahead, but that’s another thing that’s impressive about OV too is he rarely missed games”
A third fan wrote, “Injuries have already changed him. Difference between him and Ovie is being available. Ovie was injury- free.”
One fan directly rejected a competition, saying, “doesn’t matter, Matthews won’t double down in the other half of his career like the russian machine did.”
Auston Matthews has matched Alex Ovechkin’s early scoring pace
Matthews’ 425 goals through 689 games put him almost level with Ovechkin at the same career point. His scoring rate remains one of the strongest the league has seen in the modern era.
The Toronto captain has scored 40 or more goals five times and reached 60 twice. He also scored a career-high 69 goals in 2023-24.
However, injuries have interrupted his availability. Matthews played 60 games in 2025-26 before a Grade 3 MCL tear and quadriceps contusion ended his season. He finished with 27 goals and 53 points.
That injury history matters when comparing his career trajectory with Ovechkin’s. Matthews has already missed significant time in several seasons, while Ovechkin has built his record through extraordinary longevity.
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Alex Ovechkin’s durability remains the bigger separator
Ovechkin’s 929 regular-season goals show what happens when elite scoring combines with sustained availability. The Capitals captain played all 82 games in 2025-26 and scored 32 goals at age 40.
From a team perspective, that reliability also gives Washington more stability around its veteran star. Ovechkin has remained a major part of the Capitals’ power play and offensive structure even as the roster has changed around him.
Matthews now enters another important chapter in Toronto. The Toronto Maple Leafs have reshaped their roster, and his health will be central to their offensive structure.
The scoring comparison shows Matthews belongs in the same conversation as Ovechkin at this stage of their careers. The durability comparison, however, remains unfinished.
If Matthews stays healthy, his scoring pace could produce another remarkable chapter. But matching Ovechkin’s career goal total requires more than elite finishing. It requires staying available year after year.
