Alex Ovechkin is chasing Wayne Gretzky's all time goal record which raises a fascinating question. Should empty met goals count? Fully? Partially?

[DrPepper12]

But what are you supposed to do? You’re up by one, a minute left, you’ve got to put it in the net. It comes with being on a good team. You get leads, and then you get those. I get it, though. People don’t love it, I’m sure. But the whole point is just to end the game.”

End the game. Wait. Hang on a second. Think about that for a moment. Empty-netters end the game. They’re the true game-winning goals. Score one and you’ve assured victory. They end the tension, they deflate the opponent, they send the fans home. They’re huge. So what if Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leader in empty-net goals? So what if more than 7 percent of his career goal totals came without an opposing goaltender on the ice?

That means more than 7 percent of his goals guaranteed a Washington Capitals win. That’s not nothing. And look who’s next on the list — Wayne Gretzky, the man Ovechkin is chasing for the all-time goals record. Gretzky scored 56 empty-netters in his career. After that, it’s Marián Hossa (40), Brad Marchand (38), Sidney Crosby (36) and Mario Lemieux (33). Pretty good company.

Of course they should count FULLY

Count as.5 goal.

Count for the team not the scorer

Here's my idea...

[TheSmellOfVictoria]

Of course they should count. Like you showed, the best have scored unchallenged goals. That's how sports work. The biggest achievement for athletes, is the respect their peers show them. It's not about records, it's more about the journey and the appreciation from teammates and fans. I played against this guy! I appreciate the ovation he got.

https://youtu.be/68ip2mmTbiY?si=rwjSxOSvyHG8ZCBF

[Friendlybro79]

Yes they should count. Teams aren't forced to pull their goalies. They have an extra skater on the ice when this happens so it's completely fair.

[BonzoInBitburg]

Good question but I think there's a good part of Ovie's career where he wasn't on the ice when the Caps were down 1 with a minute to go. He's got the most PP goals and that's just as much of a scoring advantage as empty net. I'll tip my cap to #8 and let it count and consider him the greatest goal scorer of all time.

[DrPepper12]

Same but I miss the likes of Mike Bossy. Tragic that his career was so short

[NathanDavis]

I have absolutely no idea what these are, but...

if Old Guy scored them too, and counted them for his record... then Young Dude should count his too

how many of them as percentage doesn't matter... Old Guy had his chances to get more as well

[fish5505_87]

When I used to play hockey with my buddies, sometimes just messing around, 2-2, 3-3, one on one on one. When somebody would get a cheap goal we would nod our head and say "It Counts"

[exitseven]

they should count.