The legendary Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has made history by breaking Wayne Gretzky’s longstanding NHL goals record, netting his 895th career goal. This monumental goal was scored against fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin during a power play against the New York Islanders on Sunday, allowing Ovechkin to eclipse Gretzky and claim the record for himself.
Ovechkin started the season needing 42 goals to surpass the regular-season record held by the iconic “The Great One,” a milestone that once appeared out of reach. At 39 years old, during his 20th NHL season, Ovechkin was on track to hit and surpass 894 goals by February. However, a setback occurred when he fractured his left leg in a game in November, forcing him to miss 16 games. Undeterred, Ovechkin resumed his chase in the Capitals’ first post-Christmas game against Toronto.
During a crucial moment with his team down 2-0 and on their first power play, Ovechkin received a flawless pass from his longtime teammate Tom Wilson. Displaying his signature move, Ovechkin nailed a one-timer past Sorokin, sending the puck directly into the net.
Ovechkin already boasted several NHL records, including those for power-play goals and shots on goal. His 895th goal granted him 136 game-winning goals, surpassing the previous tie with Jaromir Jagr. By scoring on Sorokin, Ovechkin extended his tally to 183 different goalies, another record previously held by Jagr after surpassing the Ottawa Senators’ Leevi Merilainen at goal number 874. Ovechkin currently ranks second only to Gretzky in multi-goal games, with 178 to Gretzky’s 189.
Earlier in the season, Ovechkin became the 60th player in NHL history to achieve 700 assists, joining an elite group that includes the likes of Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne, and Phil Esposito—all players with over 700 goals and assists.
To reach this pinnacle, Ovechkin leapfrogged NHL greats such as Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741), and Jagr (766). By scoring his 802nd goal on December 23, 2022, Ovechkin firmly positioned himself in second place, trailing only Gretzky’s then-standing record. He netted his record-breaking 895th goal in his 1,487th regular-season game, matching the total number of games Gretzky played.
Gretzky’s record stood untouched since March 23, 1994, when he surpassed Howe with his 802nd goal. Gretzky, who retired in 1999 after 1,487 games across 20 seasons, remains a figure of monumental NHL achievements.
Although Ovechkin’s milestone goals do not factor in playoff counts, Gretzky still leads with 122 playoff goals compared to Ovechkin’s 72. Additionally, Gretzky scored 56 goals during the World Hockey Association regular season and playoffs, a tally that stands close to Ovechkin’s 57 during his time with the Russia-based KHL.