On April 6, Alex Ovechkin — also known as “The Great 8” — officially etched his name in the National Hockey League (NHL) record books. In a sold-out game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. What many thought could never be achieved is now a reality.

The Shot

It came, seven minutes and 26 seconds into the second period against the Islanders, when the puck slipped past goalie Ilya Sorokin. Despite the Washington Capitals 4-1 loss, the energy was still noticeable. Teammates swarmed him, the crowd chanted his name, and even the opposing players and fans showed respect for the game’s best. In their last game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin passed up on an opportunity to secure this milestone with an empty net goal. He left it to rookie Ryan Leonard, showing his leadership and selflessness on the ice. Gretzky himself made sure to be at the game, and offered his congratulations: “There’s nothing better than the National Hockey League. They say records are meant to be broken, but I’m not sure who will get more goals than that. It’s the greatest game in the world.”

After the goal, Ovechkin raised his stick toward Gretsky, visibly emotional. This wasn’t just another goal. This was a record shattered and the continuation of a legacy.

Ovechkin was drafted first overall by the Capitals in 2004. From the moment he burst onto the scene in 2005 following the NHL lockout, it was clear he was a different kind of goal scorer. He scored 52 goals in his rookie season and never looked back. Over two decades, Ovechkin has defined consistency with nine 50-goal seasons, led the league in goals nine times, and become one of the faces of an entire era of hockey. Ovechkin’s career has been nothing short of iconic. Beyond the record, he’s also a Stanley Cup champion, winning in 2018 against the Las Vegas Golden Knights. 

Gretzky made sure he went to all of Ovechkin’s recent games in case Ovechkin broke his record earlier, a legend of the past paying tribute to a legend of today. Sidney Crosby, who has been in the league for years, offered his congratulations after the game: "Ovi, it's been an honor to compete against you all these years. Over that time, you've accomplished so many milestones. But this one was probably thought to be impossible, and you found a way to do it. Congratulations on scoring the most goals in NHL history." Even LeBron James and Michael Phelps offered their congratulations on breaking one of the most impressive records in all of sports.

Though the spotlight has been on the chase for 895 goals, Ovechkin’s not finished. At age 39, he remains a scoring threat and a key part of the Capitals' offense. He could set a new record that may stand the test of time, and beyond the numbers, he’s using his leadership to mentor a new generation of players, passing down his skill and love for the game.

When Gretzky became the all-time goals leader in 1994, it felt like the end of an era, a record that would remain untouched forever. Now that Ovechkin broke that record, however, it has opened a new chapter and redefined what’s possible in hockey.

Ovechkin came from Moscow, Russia, with a dream. Now, he stands alone on hockey’s most legendary list.