Sunday, April 6, Alex Ovechkin scored his 895 career goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky.
Not waiting to return back to D.C. the Washington Capitals winger’s 895th was past New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.
With a sizzling wrist shot — so appropriately on the power play, so appropriately from just outside the left faceoff circle — the Washington Capitals’ absolute icon beat a New York Islanders goalie named Ilya Sorokin, a fellow Russian. In a box above the ice at UBS Arena, Wayne Gretzky rose from his chair and clapped. For the first time in more than 11,300 days, Gretzky did not hold the NHL’s record for goals. Ovechkin did.
“They say records are made to be broken,” Gretzky told the crowd, facing Ovechkin, a few moments later. “But I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that.”
Barry Svrluga: Alex Ovechkin is hockey’s greatest scorer. He’s also Washington’s — forever. – The Post
The Caps fell, 4-1. They retain first place in the Eastern Conference.
The 895th goal
Ceremony
Gretzky was there to congratulate the new all-time goals champion.
A long way October 2005
I attended Ovechkin’s first NHL game. My wife and a friend went to Opening Night and I think we might have eaten the 4th ticket. It wasn’t a sell out.
Times have changed.
About 39 seconds in, Ovechkin checked a Columbus Blue Jacket into the boards so hard the glass became dislodged.
Then he scored 2 goals, the first of nearly 900.
In 2008, he led the Caps to the playoffs. The lost in 7 in the first round. Many first and second round exits followed, but it all came together in 2018 with a magical Stanley Cup championship. Ovechkin led the celebrations on and off the ice in a memorable summer bacchanalia.
A D.C. legacy
Ovechkin has played his entire NHL career in one place. He’s one of the top three greatest professional athletes in Washington history, along with Walter Johnson and Sammy Baugh. He’s easily the greatest of most of our lifetimes.
On to the Stanley Cup playoffs!
This is fun, but I’d love to see a parade. The Caps are #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They’ve been there before, but haven’t won a series since 2018 when they hoisted the Cup. It’s time for a deep run.