Alex Ovechkin Ties Gretzky With Historic 894th Goal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Alex Ovechkin scored his 894th career goal Friday night, tying Wayne Gretzky’s legendary NHL record. The goal, scored in front of family and a roaring Washington crowd, set off an emotional celebration. With six games left this season, Ovechkin is now poised to make hockey history with No. 895.
Ovechkin Ties Gretzky With Historic 894th Goal – Quick Looks
- Ovechkin scores his 894th career goal, tying Gretzky’s all-time NHL record
- Goal No. 894 was a power-play blast, assisted by John Carlson
- Happened in Washington’s 5-3 win over Chicago, Ovechkin’s home arena
- Emotional celebration included tributes to family and Gretzky himself
- Ovechkin broke the record for most game-winners (136), surpassing Jaromir Jagr
- Refused to score No. 895 into an empty net, wanting to beat a goalie
- Blackhawks players stayed on ice to honor Ovechkin postgame
- Next shot at history: Sunday vs. New York Islanders
Alex Ovechkin Ties Gretzky With Historic 894th Goal
Deep Look
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a thunderous slapshot from his signature left faceoff circle, Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record Friday night, igniting Capital One Arena and inching ever closer to hockey immortality.
Ovechkin’s 894th career goal, his second of the night and 41st of the season, came with 13:47 left in the third period of the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The tally also gave him his 136th career game-winning goal, breaking the previous record held by Jaromir Jagr.
“I’m still shaking — I can’t believe it,” said Ovechkin. “To do it here, in D.C., with my family and with Wayne [Gretzky] watching, it’s special.”
A Night to Remember
After scoring, Ovechkin turned the celebration into a family affair. He skated to the glass to acknowledge his son Sergei, blew kisses to his wife and mother, and bowed toward Gretzky, who watched from a suite.
“It’s history,” Ovechkin said, seated beside Gretzky postgame. “It’s great for the game.”
The arena erupted as “Shake, Rattle & Roll” echoed throughout, the team’s mascot Slapshot flipped the arena’s goal counter from 893 to 894, and teammates poured off the bench to mob the 39-year-old legend in the corner.
“It was just so cool to be a part of it,” said winger Tom Wilson. “We kind of just looked at each other and said, ‘Screw it, I’m going.’”
The Great One Pays Tribute
“I can live with that for 24 more hours,” Gretzky joked. “I can still say I’m tied for the most.”
Gretzky, long considered unreachable in the record books, has openly supported Ovechkin’s chase for the title of NHL’s greatest scorer. On Friday night, he witnessed it in person — a gesture symbolizing the passing of a torch.
Not Done Yet
Ovechkin had multiple chances at No. 895 late in the third but was stopped by Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight, who became the 182nd goaltender Ovechkin has scored on in his career.
“I guess I’m just glad he didn’t get the last one,” said Knight. “But it’s cool to see. Great for the sport.”
What made Ovechkin’s performance even more remarkable was his decision not to go for the record into an empty net. Head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that Ovechkin explicitly declined the opportunity.
“He wants to break the record with a goalie in net,” Carbery said. “He wants that moment to be earned — and we respect that.”
With six games left, the stage is set for Ovechkin to make history again — this time with the all-time record for himself.
Class Act All Around
In a rare move, Chicago’s players stayed on the ice after the game to congratulate Ovechkin in a handshake line — a sign of respect from around the league.
“Very classy by the Hawks,” Wilson said. “This night was incredible. And we still have more to look forward to.”
Ovechkin’s next opportunity to become the NHL’s standalone all-time leading goal scorer comes Sunday on the road against the New York Islanders.
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