Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s longtime NHL record with 895th career goal

Alex Ovechkin did what once seemed impossible. The 39-year-old broke Wayne Gretzky’s longstanding NHL career goals record. 

On Sunday against the New York Islanders, the winger scored the 895th goal of his career when he scored a wrist shot past goalie Ilya Sorokin, to help the Washington Capitals cut the lead to 2-1 in the second period.

Sunday’s game stopped for several minutes after Ovechkin’s goal as he celebrated with his team and shook hands with members of the Islanders. A tribute video played for Ovechkin at the Islanders’ home arena, UBS Arena, and the NHL’s new all-time leading goal scorer was congratulated by Gretzky on the ice. 

Ovechkin, nicknamed “The Great 8,” now has 42 goals on the season, despite missing 16 games due to a broken fibula. He’s totaled 40 or more goals 14 times in his career, which is also an NHL record. 

Gretzky, known as “the Great One,” scored 894 goals in his 20-year career, which ended in 1999. He still owns a couple of records that likely are unbreakable, though: most points (2,857) and most assists (1,963) in league history. Gretzy was in attendance Friday night when Ovechkin tied his record in the Capitals’ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ovechkin, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft, has spent his entire NHL career with the Capitals. The 12-time All-Star won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP, when the Capitals took home their first ever championship in 2018. He’s also a three-time NHL MVP and has led the league in goals nine times in his 20 seasons. 

Ovechkin has several other NHL career records to his name, including the most power-play goals, game-winning goals and shots on goal. But his latest record is his most famous yet. 

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