Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals made history on April 6, 2025, by becoming the National Hockey League's all-time leading goal scorer with his 895th goal, surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record of 894 goals. The milestone was achieved during a match against the New York Islanders, celebrated by a tremendous reaction from fans and teammates alike.

Ovechkin's historic goal came in the second period of the game, as he took a powerful shot from his favorite spot on the left face-off circle, resulting in jubilant cheers from the crowd. The moment was highlighted by Gretzky's attendance, who applauded Ovechkin and shared in the excitement. "I can tell you first hand, I know how hard it is to get 894—for me, 895 is pretty special," Gretzky remarked during the celebration.

This achievement is particularly notable as Ovechkin endured a challenging season, having missed 16 games due to a broken leg sustained in November. He returned to form, scoring consistently and tying Gretzky’s record just days before breaking it. The Capitals and their fans have embraced the “GR8 Chase,” named after Ovechkin's jersey number, as the season's main narrative.

The game was paused for nearly 20 minutes to honor Ovechkin's accomplishment, with both teams taking part in celebrating his success. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised Ovechkin, calling him "an unstoppable force" in the league. Ovechkin expressed his gratitude, stating, “Finally, no one’s going to ask me about 'when you’re going to do it'. It’s over right now.”

With this landmark goal, Ovechkin further solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players in nhl history, alongside legends like Gordie Howe and Jaromir Jagr. Fans are now eagerly waiting to see how many more goals he can score before the end of the season, with Ovechkin already reaching 42 goals in the current campaign. Should his scoring prowess continue, he may set a benchmark that remains unbroken for years to come.

For more on this historic hockey moment, visit the complete coverage by the BBC and NPR.