The Washington Capitals player became the highest NHL scoring leader of all time when he slotted goal number 895 against the New York Islanders.
Alexander Ovechkin became a major goal scorer in National Hockey League (NHL) history when he scored his 895th career goal in the second term of the Washington Capitals and defeated his tie on the leaderboard in the second term of defeat to the New York Islanders.
“They say the records are made to break,” Gretzky said at an ice ceremony Sunday. “But we don’t know who will achieve any further goal.”
Mark Gatcom collected the first two goal games of his career, with Bo Horvatt and Jean Gabriel Pagot also scoring the Islanders, with the Islanders winning their second consecutive game.
Goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin stopped 28 of New York’s 29 shots sitting five points behind the Montreal Canadiens in the final wildcard spot race at the Eastern Conference.
Charlie Lindgren made 18 saves for the Eastern Conference leading capital, which lost five of the seven.
However, on Sunday, it was Ovechkin. He completed Gretzky’s pursuit in the right way by adding it to another NHL record with his 325th power play goal.
17,250 sold out crowds – featuring thousands of people adorned with capital uniforms – bustling when he hit the ice after islander Casey Sidicus was moaned for grabs in the second term.
A TV timeout allowed Ovechkin to build predictions before he lifted his skate along the left side of the ice, taking a pass from his longtime teammate Tom Wilson and firing a wrist shot from a forward circle that passed the Sorokin’s blocker.
Ovechkin raised his arm, stomped on several steps, and did a belly flop on the ice as the crowd roared. He collected record-breaking goals in his 1,487th career game. It’s as many NHL games as Greetzky has played.
“We all witnessed history,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
The capital, led by John Carlson, was bolted for Ovechkin as the scoreboard displayed graphic readings, so when the celebrations displayed “Alex Ovechkin, the highest target leader in 895 NHL history,” he was bolted for Ovechkin and rioted him on the centre ice.
Scoring milestone celebration
A video montage of Ovechkin’s milestone goals aired as the blue carpet next to the commemorative painting of “The Great 8,” which raised the Stanley Cup in 2018, rolled over the ice.
The scoreboard tribute ended with a message from his wife Anastasia, their two children, and Ovechkin’s mother, Tatiana. His family joined him on Centre Ice during the memorial celebration.
The island remains on the ice and slams on the stick before Ovechkin exchanged hands with the skater and embraced Netminder Ilya Sorokin. He later hugged New York coach Patrick Roy.
After Bettman and Gretzky spoke, Gretzky and his wife Janet presented the gift to Ovechkin’s wife. Gordie Howe’s wife gave Janet a gift in 1994 when Gretzky surpassed Howe.
Ovechkin hugged and kissed his family before taking the microphone decorated with “895”.
“What a day?” Ovechkin said.
The milestone goal was to keep Overshakin’s impressive sprint on record. He turned 39 in September and has scored 42 goals this season, but has lost nearly six weeks with a broken leg. Ovechkin has 32 goals in his final 45 games. This includes at least one in each of the previous five.
Ovechkin’s historic goals may have concluded Gretzky’s 31-year reign as a major goal scorer in the NHL, and perhaps began his longest tenure in history.
Sidney Crosby, who joined the league at 2005 at the age of 37, ranks second only to Ovechkin among active players, with 622 goals entering Sunday.
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