A National Hockey League record many thought would stand the test of time has fallen 11,337 days after it was broken.
Alexander Ovechkin has now become the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring his 895th goal Sunday against the New York Islanders, passing Wayne Gretzky’s mark which he tied Saturday with a two-goal game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Great 8 did so in a fitting fashion, with his marker coming from his office on the power play, assisted by Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome.
The celebration was swift, with Ovechkin sprinting towards centre ice and diving onto his belly only to be mobbed by his Capitals teammates in front of the Long Island crowd. In an ensuing ceremony with Gretzky and commissioner Gary Bettman on hand, Ovechkin was presented with a painting to honour his achievement, while Gretzky’s wife, Janet, presented Ovechkin and his family with a gift, just how Gordie Howe’s wife Colleen did when Gretzky broke his record.
Alex Ovechkin
Apr 6, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scores a goal in the 2nd period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The goal is the 895th of Ovechkin’s career, breaking the NHL all-time career goals record previously held by Wayne Gretzky.at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Wayne Gretzky Alex Ovechkin
Apr 6, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Former Canadian-American ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky (middle) and Commissioner of the NHL Gary Bettman congratulates Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) after scoring a goal in the 2nd period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The goal is the 895th of Ovechkin’s career, breaking the NHL all-time career goals record previously held by Wayne Gretzky.at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Wayne Gretzky
Mar. 23, 1994; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Kings Wayne Gretzky sets NHL goal scoring mark. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY NETWORK
Gretzky’s goal to pass Howe and Ovechkin’s to pass Gretzky were similar. Both on the power play, both in the second period and from the left side of the ice. What’s most interesting, however, was who had the primary assist. Tough guy Tom Wilson set up Ovechkin, while Marty McSorley was the one to set up Gretzky’s, whose came at the 14:47 mark. Ovechkin’s, meanwhile, came three second short of being half the amount of time elapsed in the period, at the 7:26 mark.
Now, he has his sights set on becoming the only player to score 900 regular season goals in NHL history, and while he’s closer to retirement than not, he has another year left on his current contract with the Captials, meaning more opportunity to continue to add to the record.
It remains to be seen if anyone will ever catch Ovechkin’s goal-scoring record. One player who may have the best shot, though, is Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews, who sits at 398 goals through his first 623 NHL games. Ovechkin had seven fewer goals, 391, through his first 623 games, while Matthews has .64 goals per game compared to the .6 goals per game Ovi has today.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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