Alex Ovechkin celebrated his record-breaking goal with abandon. © APA / BRUCE BENNETT

VIDEO | Flying Ovechkin outstrips Grezky

Ice hockey superstar Alexander Ovechkin made history with his 895th NHL goal and is now the league's sole record goalscorer, ahead of Canadian legend Wayne Gretzky.

06 April 2025

From: dpa/fop

The 39-year-old Russian scored the 1-2 goal in the second period of his Washington Capitals' game against the New York Islanders, which sparked great cheers.

After his record-breaking goal, Ovechkin collapsed onto the ice on his stomach, slid a few meters, and was then warmly embraced by his teammates. Even the Islanders fans celebrated.

With 895 goals, "Ovi" has scored one more goal in the North American professional league NHL than the now 64-year-old Gretzky. In the previous game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, Ovechkin, in front of Gretzky's eyes, had already equaled "The Great One's" long-considered unattainable record of 894 goals with two goals.

Wayne Gretzky (center) congratulated Alex Ovechkin after the game. © APA / BRUCE BENNETT

Born in Moscow in 1985, Ovechkin was the son of two athletes – his father played soccer, his mother basketball – and demonstrated his great talent on the ice at an early age. In 2004, the Washington-based club selected him first overall in the draft, and a year later, he made his professional debut with the Capitals. In 2018, he won the Stanley Cup with the team from the capital. With the Russian national team, currently banned from international competitions, he won three world championships but missed out on an Olympic medal.