admin The UBS Arena erupted in celebration on Sunday as Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals made history by netting his 895th career goal, surpassing the long-standing NHL record set by Wayne Gretzky.
Cheers of “Ovi!” echoed through the arena following the goal, which came during a power play. The hockey world had been watching closely in recent weeks as Ovechkin edged closer to the record. On the historic night, his family was present in the stands, joined by Gretzky himself.
A precise pass during the power play from long-time teammate Tom Wilson gave the veteran left-winger the perfect opportunity to score.
“As I’ve always said, this is a team sport,” Ovechkin told the packed arena moments after the record-breaking goal. “Without my teammates, the entire organisation, the fans, the trainers, the coaches—I wouldn’t be here, and I certainly wouldn’t have passed the Great One. So thank you, lads, I love you all so much.”
He then turned his attention to his children and fans across the globe: “We did it, boys, we did it.”
Now 39, Ovechkin expressed heartfelt thanks to his family and children, saying, “Without your support, I wouldn’t still be here,” before sharing an emotional embrace with them.
Gretzky’s record had stood since 1999, when he scored his 894th goal while playing for the New York Rangers in his 20th and final season. He offered warm congratulations to Ovechkin and his family.
“I can tell you from experience, getting to 894 is no easy feat—895 is truly remarkable,” Gretzky said. “They say records are meant to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s going to top that one.”
Ovechkin’s historic goal came just under two weeks before the team’s final regular-season game on 17 April.
“We’ve all just witnessed history,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman during a special ceremony at centre ice. “Wayne, you’ll always be the Great One, and you held a record many thought would never fall. But Alex, you’ve done it. You’ve been extraordinary, both on and off the ice, and a true ambassador for the NHL.”
To mark the occasion, Bettman presented Ovechkin with a custom painting by Canadian sports artist Tony Harris, depicting him lifting the Stanley Cup.
Adding a poetic touch to the evening, the goal was the first Ovechkin had ever scored against fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin, making Sorokin the 183rd goaltender Ovechkin has beaten in his NHL career.
The Capitals quickly surrounded their captain to celebrate the iconic moment, just as they had when he equalled Gretzky’s record two days earlier. Ovechkin also embraced the equipment and training staff before shaking hands with players from the opposing New York Islanders.
The chase by the Great 8, a nickname in honour of Ovechkin’s shirt number, has captured hearts from North America to his native Russia. In Russia, billboards and digital counters tracked every goal in his pursuit of history. His journey was bolstered by the strong performance of his team this season, defying expectations.
Though NHL playoff goals don’t contribute to the official record, Gretzky still holds the most with 122, while Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky also added another 56 goals in the WHA (World Hockey Association) across regular season and playoffs, while Ovechkin has 57 from his time in Russia’s KHL.
Returning to play in Russia someday remains a possibility for Ovechkin, who has one season remaining after this on the five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021. That deal, which runs through his 40th birthday, was designed to give him the time he needed to chase—and ultimately surpass—Gretzky’s historic mark.
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