Alex Ovechkin delivered a historic shot from the spot that’s defined his remarkable career, making him the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. With a power-play goal against the New York Islanders, Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record, scoring his 895th career goal.
The milestone goal came in the second period, with Ovechkin connecting on a cross-ice pass from his longtime teammate Tom Wilson. He blasted the puck past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin, with defenseman Jakob Chychrun providing a screen.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery called it “the ultimate goal-scorer’s goal for the greatest of all time.”
Ovechkin, overwhelmed with emotion, celebrated by belly-flopping onto the ice as thousands of fans erupted in cheers, chanting “Ovi! Ovi!” His teammates rushed off the bench to join the celebration.
“I’m probably going to need a couple of days—or maybe even a couple of weeks—to really understand what it means to be No. 1,” Ovechkin said after the Capitals’ 4-1 loss. “I’m really proud of myself, my family, my teammates, and all my coaches. It’s huge—unbelievable.”
Interestingly, Ovechkin had never scored on Sorokin before, making the Russian goalie the 183rd different netminder he’s beaten. Ovechkin even thanked Sorokin, saying, “Thank you for letting me score 895, brother,” and later received the stick with “895!” written on it, signed by Sorokin.
The achievement left many in awe. “It’s truly incredible,” said center Dylan Strome, who assisted on Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal. “You have to pinch yourself to believe you’re part of this moment.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged the rarity of the record during the celebration. “Wayne, you’ll always be the ‘Great One,’ and your record was thought to be unbreakable,” Bettman said. “But Alex, you did it.”
Ovechkin’s celebration included hugs from longtime equipment managers and support staff, reflecting his deep connections within the Capitals organization. He also received a portrait of himself with Gretzky, and Gretzky’s wife presented a gift to Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, similar to the gesture when Gordie Howe’s record was broken in 1994.
Gretzky himself shook Ovechkin’s hand, congratulating him and his family. “Records are made to be broken,” Gretzky said. “But I’m not sure anyone will get more goals than that.”
Ovechkin took the mic from Gretzky, thanking his injured teammates Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie, his wife, mother, and children, acknowledging the support that helped him reach this milestone.
Ovechkin’s journey to 895 goals has been remarkable, especially considering he missed 16 games due to a broken leg. Despite that, he’s maintained an extraordinary scoring pace, surpassing 40 goals this season for the 14th time—two more than Gretzky.
“This is incredible, especially at his age,” said teammate John Carlson. “People don’t realize how impressive it is that he’s still scoring at this level, even after missing two months.”
Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record captivated fans from North America to Russia, where billboards tracked his progress. As he approaches his final contract season, Ovechkin’s legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history is firmly established.
