Alexander Ovechkin has officially written his name into hockey history books, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. The iconic moment came on Sunday at UBS Arena, during the Washington Capitals’ clash with the New York Islanders, where Ovechkin netted his 895th career goal.
A Milestone Years in the Making
Ovechkin’s long-anticipated record-breaking goal was met with an outpouring of admiration and respect. Among those in attendance was none other than Wayne Gretzky himself, who stood to applaud as Ovechkin made history. His wife, Janet Jones, was visibly emotional, covering her face in awe as the 39-year-old Capitals captain etched his name above Gretzky’s once-untouchable 894-goal benchmark.
After the historic goal, the on-ice celebration was made even more special when Gretzky approached Ovechkin for a handshake—a moment he had vowed to deliver personally.
“I said I’d be the first one to shake your hand when you broke the record,” the 64-year-old hockey legend said.
“I wish the Islanders and the New York fans all the best, but we’re here today to celebrate this guy here, number 8. I can tell you firsthand I know how hard it is to get to 894—895 is pretty special. They say records are meant to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s gonna get more goals than that.”
Breaking Down the Numbers: Gretzky vs. Ovechkin
- Games Played: Gretzky – 1,487 | Ovechkin – 1,485
- Goals: Gretzky – 894 | Ovechkin – 895
- Assists: Gretzky – 1,963 | Ovechkin – 724
- Points: Gretzky – 2,857 | Ovechkin – 1,616
While Gretzky remains far ahead in assists and total points, Ovechkin’s unmatched scoring consistency has elevated him to the top of the goal charts.
Ovechkin’s Scoring Surge in 2024–25
The Russian forward’s dominant season included multi-goal games, hat tricks, and clutch performances. His scoring campaign across key matchups—ranging from New Jersey to Boston—helped him reach the milestone, goal by goal.
Notably, Ovechkin netted three goals against Vegas on November 17 and another hat trick versus Edmonton on February 23.
Career Goal Breakdown
- Even Strength: 564 goals (3rd all-time)
- Power Play: 323 (an NHL record)
- Empty Net: 65 (NHL record)
- Game-Winning Goals: 135 (tied for 1st with Jaromir Jagr)
- Overtime Goals: 27 (an NHL record)
- Multi-Goal Games: 178 (2nd all-time)
- Hat Tricks: 32 (tied for 5th all-time)
Ovechkin also holds the record for scoring against the most different goalies (182) and has tied Brett Hull’s record with hat tricks against 20 different franchises.
Legacy Built Over Seasons
Since his debut in 2005, Ovechkin has consistently hit goal-scoring milestones:
- 20-goal seasons: 20 (tied for second)
- 30-goal seasons: 19 (an NHL record)
- 40-goal seasons: 13 (also a record)
From a 52-goal rookie season to 39 goals this year, Ovechkin has continued to defy age and expectation, with no signs of slowing down.