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Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record
Stephen Whyno • April 7th, 2025 7:43 am
Alex Ovechkin celebrates after breaking the NHL goal-scoring record with his 895th goal | Photo: AP
Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzky's historic ice hockey record for the most goals in NHL history by scoring the 895th of his career, smashing a mark that has stood for 31 years.
The 39-year-old Washington Capitals' captain made history on Sunday against the New York Islanders by beating fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on a power play in the second period.
Gretzky and his wife, Janet Jones, were on hand to watch the record-setter.
Ovechkin had never scored on Sorokin before, making his countryman the 183rd different goaltender he has beaten.
After Ovechkin had hurled himself to the ice on his front and slid away in a wonderfully ecstatic celebration, teammates mobbed the Russian to celebrate the accomplishment.
Ovechkin then hugged team equipment and training staff on the bench and went through a handshake line with the Islanders as crew members set up for the 895 ceremony.
Gretzky's total of 894 goals had long seemed unapproachable. Ovechkin passed it even after missing 16 games in November and December because of a broken left leg, a testament to his durability and a knack for putting the puck in the net consistently for two decades.
He surpassed 40 goals this season for a 14th time — two more than Gretzky and also the most in league history.
Even before this, Ovechkin owned the NHL records for power-play goals, shots on goal and the most goalies scored against, now adding Sorokin to that list.
Only Gretzky has more multi-goal games, and Ovechkin earlier this season became just the sixth player with 700 goals and 700 assists, joining Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito.
The chase by the Great 8, a nickname honouring his jersey number, captured attention from North America to Ovechkin's native Russia, where billboards and goal-counters cheered on and tracked his effort.
'The Great Eight' Ovechkin saluting the crowd after his historic goal | Photo: AP
It helped Ovechkin that his team is one of the best in the NHL this season, defying expectations.
Returning to Russia to play in front of family and friends is an option at some point for Ovechkin, who has one season left after this one on the five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021, which took him through age 40 to give him enough time to chase Gretzky's record.
Instead, he got it done earlier than just about anyone could have realistically expected.
- AP
