- Alexander Ovechkin has been the great goal-scorer in the modern NHL, winning the “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times for leading the league in goals.
- Ovechkin has been on the hunt to break Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals for an NHL career.
- The mission was finally completed on Sunday, when Ovechkin broke the record on the road against the New York Islanders with Gretzky in the crowd.
Alexander Ovechkin’s chase to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record has been the biggest story in the NHL this season. The Russian superstar is the greatest goal-scorer of the modern era, delivering 40+ goals 14 times in his 20-year career, including this season.
Ovechkin is now the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history as he broke Gretzky’s record of 894 goals on Sunday against the New York Islanders.
Ovechkin Stands Alone Among Top NHL Goal-Scorers
The Washington Capitals’ superstar scored his 895th goal at 7:26 of the third period on the road against the Islanders. Ovechkin promptly celebrated with a belly flop and slide.
The 39-year-old broke a record that was set when Gretzky ended his career in 1999. It also only counts for regular-season goals. “The Great One” has scored 122 goals in the playoffs, while Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky was on hand on Sunday and had a speech for Ovechkin.
It did come at the expense of a loss for the Capitals, who were beaten 4-1 on the day by the Islanders. But that will be a mere footnote in history for this day as Ovechkin adds this to his glittering resume.
“Ovi” has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times in his career for leading the NHL in goals. He has also won the Hart Memorial Trophy three times and was named the Conn Smythe winner for playoff MVP when he won his lone Stanley Cup in 2018.
What’s most impressive is how Ovechkin broke this record, despite missing a lot of time. He came into the season needing 42 goals to break the record. But Ovechkin missed a little over five weeks with a broken fibula between December and January. You can theorize that he broken this record a long time ago if he had stayed healthy.
But it’s a testament to the work Ovechkin puts in that he still broke the record. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, we might be looking at another 50-goal season for Ovechkin, who turns 40 in September.
What Does This Mean for the Washington Capitals?
While the Capitals are happy Ovechkin broke the record, it’s surely a relief that he broke the record, and now they can get on with the job of winning it all. The Capitals are one of the top teams in the Stanley Cup odds for this season, and they should go into the playoffs as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Capitals have lost five of their last seven with five games remaining. Washington has to regain some of their form before the playoffs hit, which would be the cherry on top for “the Great 8” and his teammates. Now that the “Great Chase” is over, the Capitals can put their focus back on the Stanley Cup.