The Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin, known as “The Great Eight,” has set a high standard not only in the District, but across hockey, having brown the all-time scoring goal in the professional sport on Sunday, April 6.
In an exciting moment during Sunday’s game against the New York Islanders, Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals left wing, scored his 895th career goal, breaking the long-standing record of Wayne Gretzky, known as “The Great One,” who scored 894.
“We’re here today to celebrate this guy here, number eight,” said Gretzky during the on-ice ceremony. “I can tell you first hand, I know how hard it is to get to 894; 895 is pretty special.”
In congratulating the Capitals star, Gretzky said that making such history doesn’t come without familial support.
“My congratulations to not only Alex, his mom and dad, his family, his wife and kids,” he said. “When I broke the record, my two kids were both the age of his boys, so it’s kind of reminiscent for me.”
The historic record-breaking goal came during a power play against the Islanders. Ovechkin fired a signature one-timer pass to fellow Russian and Islander goaltender Ilya Sorokin, sending Capital One Arena into a frenzy.
While the 895th goal was a major moment for his career, Ovechkin, like Gretzky, emphasized that he couldn’t have done it alone.
“Like I always said, all the time, it’s a team sport, and without my boys, the whole organization, the fans, the trainers, the coaches, I would’ve never stood there and never passed a great one,” said Ovechkin, paying homage to his teammates and Gretzky’s legacy. “So fellas, thank you very much, I love you so much.”
In addition to breaking the record, the historic goal also marked the first time Ovechkin scored against someone from his country.
Just after the goal was scored, Ovechkin bursted on the ice to celebrate the major achievement. His teammates joined him, crowding and embracing the great Capitals vet as fans cheered “Ovi,” igniting a fire in Capital One Arena, across the District and throughout hockey.
“For me, he was one of the first players I actually knew of when I first started watching hockey in the late 2000s,” said ice hockey fan George Hamilton III.
Ovechkin’s mother, father-in-law, wife and children came down on the ice after his astonishing goal with his mother and wife’s heartfelt messages playing on the arena’s jumbotron.
As Capital One Arena erupted with cheers and some people wiped away tears, the goal was a moment to honor Ovechkin’s athleticism and longtime commitment to the Capitals.
Hamilton, a long-standing hockey fan, reflects on how Ovechkin’s moment is similar to basketball star LeBron James passing the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record in 2023.
As a longtime ice hockey fan, George Hamilton III is proud to see Alex Ovechkin achieve the record-breaking goal, comparing the moment to basketball star LeBron James surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record. (Courtesy photo)
“It was one of those records where as we started the season, we knew that the game where it would be broken was on the horizon, but we didn’t realize – until it actually happened – how incredible it is,” Hamilton said. “When you compare the two records – Lebron breaking Kareem’s and Alex breaking Gretzky’s goal scoring record – it’s like in order to do that you have to play so many seasons [and] so many games, including regular season and playoffs. The one major thing is that you cannot have any season ending injuries, which I don’t think Alex has ever had.”
Hamilton also reflected on Ovechkin’s long career with the Capitals.
“And I also like the fact that he scored all of his goals with The Washington Capitals, similar to Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan who basically played all of their career with one team,” he said.
Drafted first overall in 2004, Ovechkin has spent his entire career in Washington, D.C., becoming the face of the Capitals franchise and even leading them to a Stanley Cup in 2018.
With more goals scored than any other hockey player after the age of 30, “The Great Eight” has redefined what greatness really looks like deep within his career.
Across bars in the District and rinks in Moscow, fans have followed Ovechkin’s career every step of the way. It has become more than just a record, it’s become a celebration of culture coming together and a rare generational player.
“What makes Alex Ovechkin’s record that much more impressive is that he broke the record, the same number of games that Gretzky played for his career,” said Hamilton. “I think that’s true testament to the dedication, the skill, the craft, and the ability to be a prominent goal scorer for his team.”
Ovechkin Receives Special Honors
Having spent more than two decades in the District, Ovechkin has started and maintained traditions throughout his time on the Capitals, such as collecting paintings of himself by Tony Harris, showcasing the athlete as he has climbed atop some of the greatest NHL mountains.
During the record-breaking night, Ovechkin was gifted a special Harris painting, finally making this moment one for the books. The oil canvas painting features Ovechkin taking one of his signature one-timers as Gretzky skates behind him wearing the Edmonton Oilers uniform he wore when he scored the first 583 of his 894 goals.
“We had this painting specially commissioned for you to celebrate and commemorate this amazing, amazing accomplishment,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman during the on-ice ceremony. “Congratulations. Greatness is now a part of your name.”
Not only does the painting acknowledge the record-breaking moment, but it also includes a thrilling image of Ovechkin kissing the Stanley Cup after the Capitals’ big win in 2018.
The piece is a striking representation of two major moments intertwining to honor and preserve history.
The history and legacy wasn’t just honored between hockey players, it was also honored between wives and family.
“One of the great things about my setting the record, Colleen Howe [known as Mrs. Hockey and wife to all-time hockey great, Gordie Howe] bought my wife a gift and a wonderful note,” Gretzky said. “And we know how the legacy of hockey passes down, but so it does with the families and the wives. So my wife has something beautiful for his lovely wife that we want to pass on.”
Looking Ahead for Ovechkin
For years, Gretzky’s record was thought to be untouchable. But a rare blend of power, consistency, and longevity proved otherwise, especially in a modern NHL where goals are harder to come by.
Just two nights before his historic moment on April 6, Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s record with a third-period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks, which set the stage for what’s now considered one of the greatest milestones in NHL and Washington, D.C., history.
Many fans waited with bated breath in hopes Ovechkin would break Gretzky’s record in Sunday’s home game.
“I think that’s also what adds to Ovechkin’s greatness, even through the ups and downs,” said Hamilton. “Even though he has one Stanley Cup, he won that Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals when they’ve only been to the Stanley Cup one time before 2018.”
While the record-breaking goal was historic, it’s not the end of the story for Ovechkin and the Capitals, who still has one year left in his contract and shows no sign of slowing down.
The all-time goal scorer record may be broken, but the legacy is still being written.
“They say records are made to be broken,” said Gretzky, “but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that.”