Alex Ovechkin scores 895th goal, surpasses Wayne Gretzky's record

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Alex Ovechkin netted his career 895th goal on Sunday, surpassing the long-standing record set by Wayne Gretzky 31 years ago.

Ovechkin achieved this milestone during a power play in the second quarter against the New York Islanders. Gretzky and his wife, Janet Jones, were present to witness the record-breaking moment.

This historic goal was the culmination of an impressive sprint by Ovechkin, who started the season 41 goals behind Gretzky after scoring only 31 goals in the 2023-24 season - his lowest in a full 82-game season.

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Although Ovechkin only scored two goals in his first seven games this season, he quickly bounced back and scored 13 goals in his next 11 games before sustaining a broken leg that kept him out of the game for almost six weeks.

Upon his return on December 28, Ovechkin scored in his first two games. The record-breaking goal on Sunday extended his goal-scoring streak to five games and marked his sixth goal in that span. He tied the record with two goals in the Washington Capitals' 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

Ovechkin's historic goal ended Gretzky's reign as the NHL's top goal-scorer and marked the beginning of what could be a similarly long reign at the top of the all-time list. Sidney Crosby, who entered the league with Ovechkin in 2005 and is now 37 years old, ranks second among active players with 622 goals as of Sunday.

Only five players in their 20s - Leon Draisaitl (399 goals as of Sunday), Auston Matthews (398 goals), David Pastrnak (388 goals), Nathan MacKinnon (367 goals), and Connor McDavid (361 goals) - are within 50 goals of reaching the 400-goal milestone.

--Jerry Beach, Field Level Media