Alex Ovechkin reached a historic milestone on Sunday, scoring his 895th goal to become the NHL’s all-time leading scorer. The 39-year-old Russian winger achieved this feat in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal was scored during a power play and marked his 42nd goal of the season, putting him third in the league behind only a few players. The game paused for a ceremony to recognize Ovechkin’s achievement, with fans chanting “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!” after he finished speaking.
Wayne Gretzky, the former record holder, attended the game and praised Ovechkin’s achievement. “Eight-ninety-five is pretty special,” Gretzky said. Gretzky jokingly joked that Ovechkin would be given a Rolls-Royce as a gift if he broke his record.
Ovechkin’s record-breaking performance is notable not only for his achievement but also for the company he keeps. He has played in 20 consecutive NHL seasons, joining Gordie Howe as the only players to achieve this feat. Ovechkin has also led the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup win in 2018 and has been named an All-Star a record 12 times.
The accolades continued when Ovechkin was congratulated by a star-studded lineup of athletes, including Michael Phelps, Mark Messier, LeBron James, Simone Biles, and Derek Jeter. Ovechkin’s charity partnership to raise funds for pediatric cancer research has also garnered attention, with fans praising his commitment to giving back.
With this achievement, Ovechkin becomes the 10th player in NHL history to hold the all-time goals leader title, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest goal-scorers in league history.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/06/sport/alex-ovechkin-surpasses-wayne-gretzky-goals-record-nhl-spt/index.html