By The Numbers: 56—The Number That Meant the Game Was Over
In hockey, certain numbers carry instant meaning. Say “99,” and there’s no explanation needed. But over time, a few other numbers have earned their own place in the game’s vocabulary. One of them is 56.
For years, 56 was the NHL benchmark for career empty-net goals, a record held by Wayne Gretzky. It’s not the first stat people bring up when talking about “The Great One”, but maybe it should be. That number tells a story about trust, awareness, and the parts of Gretzky’s game that didn’t always make the highlight reels.
Master of the 200-Foot Game
Empty-net goals sound simple until you think about when they actually happen. The goalie’s pulled. The crowd is loud. One bad bounce can change everything. Those aren’t moments coaches hand out lightly.
Gretzky earned those chances because he saw the game better than anyone. He read clearing attempts, jumped passing lanes, and made smart plays under pressure. A lot of those 56 goals didn’t start with a rush—they started with a takeaway, a smart read, or Gretzky being exactly where he needed to be.
He wasn’t just protecting leads. He was helping his team finish games. And doing it over and over again is a big reason he was trusted in every situation, in every building, for two decades.
56 and Counting: The Passing of the Torch
Records don’t last forever, even the ones that seem untouchable. Alex Ovechkin passed Gretzky’s long-standing mark, adding another chapter to his own remarkable career. As of January 7, 2026, “The Great 8” has widened the gap by scoring 69 career empty-net goals (and counting).
Interesting Fact: When Ovechkin scored his 894th NHL goal, he made it clear that he wanted a goalie to be in net for his 895th goal, which would pass Gretzky for the All-Time NHL Goals Leader; an empty net goal was not going to happen according to Ovechkin.
56 Empty Net Goals—A Legacy in Second Place
When considering NHL records, the number 56 represents more than a stat—it marks a shift between eras. Out of Gretzky’s 894 career goals, just 6.3% came with the net empty. Arguably, most were scored the more difficult way, against set defenses and elite goaltending.
Today, Gretzky sits second place behind Ovechkin in both total goals and empty-netters. But those 56 empty net goals still stand as a reminder of what made “The Great One” special. Consistency. Awareness. Trust. It’s proof that greatness isn’t only about how often you score—but about being the player your coach wants on the ice when the game is about to end.