By STEPHEN WHYNO
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Ovechkin fired simply in regards to the good model of his signature one-timer that has outlined his exceptional profession. When the puck hit the online, it made him the highest objective scorer in NHL historical past.
Ovechkin scored his 895th profession objective on Sunday within the Washington Capitals’ recreation towards the New York Islanders, beating fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on an influence play with 12:34 left within the second interval. He took an ideal cross from longtime teammate Tom Wilson and fired an absolute laser previous Sorokin with defenseman Jakob Chychrun screening.
Ovechkin had by no means scored on Sorokin earlier than, making his countryman the 183rd totally different goaltender he has crushed. He dived onto the ice to have a good time as so many Capitals followers in attendance chanted “Ovi! Ovi!” from the stands.
Simply as they did after he scored No. 894, teammates mobbed the 39-year-old Ovechkin to have a good time the accomplishment, which changed a document that had stood for 31 years. Ovechkin then hugged staff gear and coaching workers on the bench, waved to acknowledge the gang and went by a handshake line with the Islanders as crew members arrange for the ceremony.
“Wayne, you’ll always be the ‘Great One’ and you had a record that nobody ever thought would be broken,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated to open the festivities. “But Alex, you did it. You’ve been amazing.”
Gretzky congratulated Ovechkin and his household for the accomplishment, including, “They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that.”
With Gretzky, spouse Janet, Bettman and Ovechkin’s spouse, mom and two sons standing close by, Ovechkin addressed the gang and stated: “I’ve always said, all the time, it’s a team sport. … Fellas, thank you very much. I love you so much.”
Extra “Ovi!” chants adopted. A lot extra can be coming as he makes an attempt to succeed in 900.
Gretzky’s whole of 894 objectives had lengthy appeared unapproachable. Ovechkin handed it even after lacking 16 video games in November and December due to a damaged left leg, a testomony to his sturdiness and a knack for placing the puck within the internet constantly for 20 years. He surpassed 40 objectives this season for a 14th time — two greater than Gretzky and in addition essentially the most in league historical past.
Even earlier than this, Ovechkin owned the NHL information for power-play objectives, photographs on objective and essentially the most goalies scored towards, now including Sorokin to that checklist. Solely Gretzky has extra multi-goal video games, and Ovechkin earlier this season turned simply the sixth participant with 700 objectives and 700 assists, becoming a member of Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito.
Ovechkin final moved up the all-time goal-scoring checklist Dec. 23, 2022, when he bought Nos. 801 and 802 to tie and cross Howe.
The chase by the Nice 8, a nickname honoring his jersey quantity, captured consideration from North America to Ovechkin’s native Russia, the place billboards and goal-counters cheered on and tracked his effort. It helped Ovechkin that his staff is without doubt one of the finest within the NHL this season, defying expectations.
Gretzky broke Howe’s document just a little over 31 years in the past, since he scored 802 on March 23, 1994. He added 92 extra earlier than retiring in 1999 after a complete of 1,487 video games over 20 seasons.
Even with this one falling to Ovechkin — which he has stated he’s enthusiastic about — Gretzky holds 55 NHL information, and two appear really untouchable: 2,857 whole factors and 1,963 assists, the latter of which is greater than anybody else has in objectives and assists mixed.
For NHL playoff objectives, which don’t depend towards the document, Gretzky has essentially the most (122). Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky additionally had one other 56 within the World Hockey Affiliation common season and playoffs, whereas Ovechkin has 57 from his time within the KHL, Russia’s high league.
Returning to Russia to play in entrance of household and mates is an possibility in some unspecified time in the future 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 by age 40 to offer him sufficient time to chase Gretzky’s document. As an alternative, he bought it carried out earlier than simply about anybody might have realistically anticipated.
Initially Printed: April 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM PDT
