Alex Ovechkin cracked open a Bud Light and took a casual sip as fans nearby chanted, “Ovi! Ovi!” Soon after, he was joined by Wayne Gretzky, placing the two greatest goal-scorers in NHL history side by side. Ovechkin’s two goals on Friday night brought him even with Gretzky at 894 goals—a milestone many thought would remain untouched forever.
When asked about Ovechkin potentially breaking the record, Gretzky had a playful response: “Well hold on a second — he hasn’t done it yet. Can you give me 24 more hours?” Ovechkin’s next chance to surpass Gretzky comes on Sunday in a game against the New York Islanders.
The 39-year-old Russian star soaked in the moment, celebrating alongside Capitals fans who have supported him for nearly two decades, with Gretzky, his mother, wife, and children present. Despite the emotional weight of the milestone, Ovechkin quickly shifted back to his usual focus: “It’s game by game; it’s shift by shift. You never know what’s gonna happen. We’re just going to continue to enjoy it and do our best because we still have six games left before the playoffs.”
While the playoffs are on the horizon, the Capitals are eager to see Ovechkin claim the record. “There’s a reason we try to get it to him: The guy’s got 41 goals,” said center Dylan Strome, who assisted on Ovechkin’s 893rd goal just four minutes into the game against Chicago.
If Ovechkin doesn’t score Sunday, the Capitals will have another shot at home Thursday against Carolina. But everyone around the team hopes to get the record over with quickly—a sentiment Gretzky understands from his own experience chasing Gordie Howe’s record of 801 goals in 1994.
“People don’t realize this — because I went through what Alex is going through — it’s hard on your teammates, too,” Gretzky said. “It’s joyful and exciting, but they feel the pressure and the stress, and they have to answer all the questions as well.”
After tying Gretzky’s record, both men were more than happy to field questions. The anticipation was palpable, especially with Ovechkin’s legacy already solidified as the 2018 playoff MVP who led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup.
“I think the last few games you could sense it a little bit, but obviously on home ice, within something extremely doable for the guy, it felt different the whole night,” said longtime teammate John Carlson, who assisted Ovechkin for goal No. 894. “From warmups, from the drop of the puck, some guys are larger than life in that regard, and it just seems like only a few people are capable of it. It seemed inevitable.”
But it’s not official until it’s broken. As Gretzky left the postgame festivities, he hugged Ovechkin and waved, saying, “See you guys on Sunday.”