For Alex Ovechkin, the goal that made history on Sunday arrived the way so many others have — during a power play, from the top of the left faceoff circle, with a signature blistering shot past the goaltender.
But this one carried more weight than any before it. With his 895th career regular-season goal, the Washington Capitals captain officially became the NHL’s all-time scoring leader, surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky — a record that had stood unchallenged for over three decades.
As the puck hit the back of the net, Ovechkin slid across the ice on his stomach, arms outstretched, letting out a triumphant yell. His teammates stormed the ice in celebration, while the visiting crowd at UBS Arena erupted in a surprisingly supportive roar, chanting his name. The game came to a halt for more than ten minutes to honor the milestone.
Players from both teams lined up to shake Ovechkin’s hand. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman joined the celebration on the ice, alongside Ovechkin’s family and, fittingly, Wayne Gretzky himself.
“I could tell you firsthand I know how hard it is to get to 894,” Gretzky said. “895 is pretty special. They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that,” he added with a smile.
Ovechkin’s pursuit of the record had become one of the central storylines of the NHL season. Just two nights earlier, he tied Gretzky’s mark with a two-goal performance at home in Washington. That set the stage for Sunday’s historic moment, sending ticket prices for the Islanders matchup soaring to over $1,000.
Now in his 20th NHL season, the 39-year-old Ovechkin is the second-oldest forward currently playing in the league. Despite his age, he’s maintained a scoring pace on par with his early years — nearly two goals every three games — proving that his legendary scoring touch hasn’t faded with time.