A legendary chapter in NHL history has just been written. Alex Ovechkin, the iconic forward of the Washington Capitals, has officially become the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history, surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky with his 895th career goal. The historic moment came during a power play against the New York Islanders, marking a once-in-a-generation milestone that the hockey world will never forget.
Ovechkin’s Record-Breaking Goal
Midway through the second period, with the Capitals on the power play, Ovechkin fired a classic one-timer past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. The goal was assisted by teammates Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome. In true Ovi fashion, he celebrated in style — sliding across the ice on his stomach while his teammates rushed in, jumping in celebration. The UBS Arena, filled with many Capitals fans, erupted as history was made.
An Emotional and Grand Celebration
Right after the goal, the celebration went beyond the usual cheers. Ovechkin skated over to the bench and made it a point to personally thank every member of the Capitals’ staff. A touching tribute video played on the arena’s jumbotron, featuring a collection of Ovechkin’s most iconic goals and congratulatory messages from some of the world’s biggest sports legends.
Among those who shared their admiration were Michael Phelps, LeBron James, Simone Biles, and Derek Jeter. Fellow NHL greats like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Mark Messier, and Auston Matthews also paid their respects, acknowledging the greatness of Ovechkin’s achievement.
Gretzky and Bettman Join the Moment
After the game, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and former goal king Wayne Gretzky joined the celebration on the ice. As expected, Bettman was met with the usual round of boos, while Gretzky was greeted with loud cheers. The two stood alongside Ovechkin, his family, and the Capitals for the official ceremony at center ice.
Bettman opened the event with a heartfelt message:
“We have all just witnessed history in front of greatness. Wayne, you’ll always be the Great One, and you had a record that nobody ever thought could be broken. But Alex, you did it!”
Gretzky followed with class, joking about his own struggles against the Islanders in the past and expressing his admiration for Ovechkin:
“They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who is going to get more goals than that.”
Gretzky presented Ovechkin with a custom painting that featured both of them, while the Gretzky family also gave a special gift to Ovechkin’s wife, Anastasia.
Ovechkin’s Grateful Speech
When it was time for Ovechkin to speak, the “Great 8” stayed true to himself — humble, appreciative, and humorous. He thanked his family, teammates, coaches, the entire Capitals organization, and the fans for supporting him throughout his career. He even joked about finally scoring on Sorokin, admitting it was the first time he managed to get a puck past the Islanders netminder.
The moment ended with a group photo featuring Ovechkin’s family, teammates, Gretzky, and Bettman — a fitting end to a historic night.
Alex Ovechkin’s 895th goal doesn’t just break a record; it cements his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game. While Gretzky will always be “The Great One,” Ovechkin’s name now stands beside his in the record books — a true symbol of excellence, longevity, and passion for hockey. At 38 years old, Ovechkin continues to show that greatness knows no age limit. For fans, players, and the entire hockey community, this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment worth cherishing.
