Alex Ovechkin is now the NHL’s best aim scorer with aim No. 895, surpassing the mark set by Wayne Gretzky 26 seasons in the past.
The Washington Capitals sniper set the brand new normal, beating fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on an influence play with 12:34 left within the second interval. He took an ideal cross from longtime teammate Tom Wilson and fired his signature one-timer that has outlined his outstanding profession previous Sorokin with defenseman Jakob Chychrun screening.
Paradoxically, Ovechkin set the mark in his 1,487th profession recreation – the identical quantity it took Gretzky to determine the earlier document.
“Wayne, you’ll all the time be the ‘Nice One’ and also you had a document that no one ever thought can be damaged,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned to open the festivities. “However Alex, you probably did it. You’ve been superb.”
Gretzky congratulated Ovechkin and his household for the accomplishment, including, “They are saying data are made to be damaged, however I’m undecided who’s going to get extra targets than that.”
With Gretzky, spouse Janet, Bettman and Ovechkin’s spouse, mom and two sons standing close by, Ovechkin addressed the gang and mentioned: “I’ve all the time mentioned, on a regular basis, it’s a group sport. .. Fellas, thanks very a lot. I really like you a lot.”
Gretzky’s complete of 894 targets had lengthy appeared unapproachable. Ovechkin handed it even after lacking 16 video games in November and December due to a damaged left lega testomony to his sturdiness and a knack for placing the puck within the web constantly for twenty years. He surpassed 40 targets this season for a 14th time — two greater than Gretzky and in addition probably the most in league historical past.
Even earlier than this, Ovechkin owned the NHL data for power-play targets, photographs on aim and the most goalies scored towards, now including Sorokin to that listing. Solely Gretzky has extra multi-goal video games, and Ovechkin earlier this season turned simply the sixth participant with 700 targets and 700 assists, becoming a member of Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito.
Ovechkin final moved up the all-time goal-scoring listing Dec. 23, 2022, when he obtained Nos. 801 and 802 to tie and cross Howe.
The chase by the Nice 8, a nickname honoring his jersey quantity, captured consideration from North America to Ovechkin’s native Russia, the place billboards and goal-counters cheered on and tracked his effort. It helped Ovechkin that his group is among the finest within the NHL this season, defying expectations.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring his 895th profession aim through the second interval of an NHL hockey recreation towards New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photograph/Adam Starvation)
Gretzky broke Howe’s document a bit over 31 years in the past, since he scored 802 on March 23, 1994. He added 92 extra earlier than retiring in 1999 after a complete of 1,487 video games over 20 seasons.
Even with this one falling to Ovechkin — which he has mentioned he’s enthusiastic about — Gretzky holds 55 NHL data, and two appear really untouchable: 2,857 complete factors and 1,963 assists, the latter of which is greater than anybody else has in targets and assists mixed.
For NHL playoff targets, which don’t rely towards the document, Gretzky has probably the most (122). Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky additionally had one other 56 within the World Hockey Affiliation common season and playoffs, whereas Ovechkin has 57 from his time within the KHL, Russia’s high league.
Returning to Russia to play in entrance of household and pals is an choice in some unspecified time in the future for Ovechkin, who has one season left after this one on the five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021, which took him by age 40 to present him sufficient time to chase Gretzky’s document. As an alternative, he obtained it performed earlier than simply about anybody may have realistically anticipated.
