WATCH: Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s All-Time Goals record

Forget your “unbreakable” records. Forget your doubts. Forget your nostalgia. Alex Ovechkin just did what we thought was impossible: 895 career NHL goals, officially passing Wayne Gretzky and becoming the greatest goal scorer the sport has ever seen.

With the Capitals on the power play against the Islanders on Sunday night, Tom Wilson fired a cross-ice feed to the office — Ovechkin’s familiar left circle perch — and the 39-year-old ripped a vintage one-timer past fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin, sending the puck into history and the arena into chaos. The Capitals might’ve lost the game 4-1, but it didn’t matter. This night belonged to Ovi.

ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE GREATEST GOALSCORER IN NHL HISTORY

ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE GREATEST GOALSCORER IN NHL HISTORY! 🚨🚨🚨 #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/NKef3VvNaJ

— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025

The celebration? Everything you’d expect from a player who has worn his heart on his sleeve since day one. Ovechkin belly-flopped onto the ice, arms out, joy radiating from every inch of him. His teammates mobbed him, fans chanted “Ovi! Ovi!” like they’ve been doing since 2005, and hockey had itself a moment for the ages.

A sight we’ve seen 894 times before this and each and every single time has been in a Capitals sweater.

Thank you, O!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/NgDK9EZopG

— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 6, 2025

This Was Never Supposed to Happen

Let’s be real — Gretzky’s 894 was supposed to be one of those records. Like DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak. Like Wilt’s 100-point game. Like Secretariat at Belmont. People said it would never be touched.

Until Alex Ovechkin showed up with a rocket for a shot and the durability of a tank.

Let’s not downplay this either: he did it in style. He hit goal 895 in exactly the same number of games Gretzky played (1,487). He missed 16 games this season with a broken leg. He’s 39. And he’s still putting up 40+ goal seasons like it’s routine.

The Stats Are Nasty

• 14 40-goal seasons — the most in NHL history
• 183 different goalies scored on (Sorokin was the latest victim)
• 5 total career injuries that probably would’ve ended a normal human’s career
• 1 record that belonged to Gretzky for 31 years — now shattered

Pure Hockey Royalty

The post-goal ceremony had everything — a handshake from The Great One himself, a portrait commemorating the moment, Gretzky passing the metaphorical torch, and a surprise gift for Ovi’s wife from Janet Gretzky. It was poetic. You’d have to have ice in your veins not to get chills. And when Ovechkin took the mic to thank his family and team, the dude kept it simple:

“We did it, boys. We did it.”

Damn right you did.

What Comes Next?

Alex Ovechkin has one more year left on his contract, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He has 42 goals this season. 900 is absolutely in play, and then some.

Wayne Gretzky still owns the records for assists (1,963) and points (2,857), and those aren’t going anywhere. But Ovechkin was never chasing that. His chase was singular: goals. Pure, beautiful, red-light-flickering goals. And now, no one in NHL history has more.

Whether you watched him from the start or joined the ride somewhere along the way, there’s no denying it now — Alex Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer of all time.

Let that sink in.

Ovi forever. 🐐🔥🥅

You have accomplished what was once thought impossible. The fact that this point was a matter of when – not if – for months, even years, speaks to your legend.

Congratulations, babe. #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/UwtVwqJVNm

— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 6, 2025

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