On March 23, 1994, Wayne Gretzky netted his 802nd career goal and rewrote NHL history passing his icon, and hockey legend, Gordie Howe, for the most career goals ever. For many, this was the icing on the cake for an already legendary career for Gretzky. “The Great One” as he was nicknamed, would collect 2 Conn Smythe Trophies, 9 Hart Memorial Trophies, 4 Stanley Cup wins, and the NHL record for assists at 1,963 throughout his career, cementing himself as the greatest hockey player of all time for a majority of hockey fans. In 1999, his prolific career of 20 seasons would end, but before everything was said and done, Greztky would light the lamp one final time in Madison Square Garden, solidifying his record at 894 goals. For the next 31 years, this unbeatable record would stand the test of time, until this year on April 6, 2025, when Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th goal. 

So how did this happen, and what led up to this monumental piece of sports history? 

To understand how the record was broken, you must first understand the journey to greatness. Before becoming a household name in the hockey world, Alex Ovechkin was just one of the many key prospects joining the league. Despite being only 18 years old, teams saw large potential and prowess in his skills. With the first pick in the 2004 NHL draft, the Washington Capitals would select Ovechkin, setting up their cornerstone figure for years to come. From the get-go, Ovechkin proved his worth as in his debut on October 5, 2005, he would score his first 2 goals in a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Following this, the rookie would go on to be one of the league’s premier goal scorers, netting 52 goals in his first season, 4th in goals scored in the 2005-06 season. In the 2006-07 season, Ovechkin would receive his first NHL All-Star selection. 2007-08 would mark the beginning of his prime, because that year, Ovechkin would score a career-high 65 goals, pushing him over 100 career goals, and propelling the Capitals to their first playoff appearance in the Ovechkin Era. His ability to put the puck into the net wouldn’t slow down because by 2010-11 he achieved 300 goals, and in the 2017-18 season, the “Great Eight” would be at 600 goals. That year, Ovechkin, along with T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom, led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup appearance, culminating in a 4-1 win over the Las Vegas Golden Knights. 

Coming into the 2024-25 NHL season, Alex Ovechkin had scored 853 goals, placing him second, only behind Wayne Gretzky, in the all-time goals podium. While Ovechkin is now the best goalscorer the league has ever seen, no one ever expected him to get this close. But after passing Gordie Howe in the 2022-23 season, fans started to believe that the impossible could be achieved. At the beginning of the season, the “GR8 CHASE” campaign started around the NHL, counting down each goal as Ovechkin inched his way toward the record. By the halfway point of the season, it looked like Gretzky’s pace towards 894 would be beaten by a decent margin. But with Ovechkin suffering a fractured fibula early in the season, he was forced to miss 4-6 weeks, prolonging the inevitable. When he returned to the rink, Ovechkin continued where he left off, with two of his biggest games coming after his injury as he netted two hat-tricks against the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers. Going into a game against the New York Rangers on March 5, 2025, Ovechkin was within 10 goals of tying Gretzky’s record.

On March 25, 2025, he came within 5 points against the Winnipeg Jets. Then on April 4, 2025, Ovechkin would score 2 goals against the Chicago Blackhawks to tie the record, a monumental day in hockey history. The Capital’s next game was on April 6, 2025, against the New York Rangers, and it quickly became the most anticipated game of the NHL season. Fans all over expected history to finally be broken after 31 years of silence. With Wayne Gretzky in attendance and 1.3 million watching live and on TV, the stakes were at the highest for Ovechkin to score one more goal. After a scoreless first period and multiple shots from Ovechkin, the magical moment would finally come in the second period. During a Capitals power play, Ovechkin would position himself for a pass from Tom Wilson. As the puck reached his stick, he would shoot his iconic one-timer, slinging the puck past the goalie, and into the net for number 895. As the moment settled in, Ovechkin would slide across the rink, claiming his spot as the greatest scorer in NHL history. 

After passing Gretzky for the scoring title, Ovechkin became the 10th player to ever hold the position according to the NHL website. With the decades-long record finally being beaten, this is just one more achievement for Ovechkin to add under his belt along with his 3 Hart Memorial Trophies and his Conn Smythe Trophy. Despite rewriting the history books countless times already, Ovechkin looks to make one final mark to his legacy, a second Stanley Cup victory.

With the Capitals now in Round 2 of the NHL Playoffs, Ovechkin has another chance to show his greatness, perhaps for the final time, to the hockey world.