Ovechkin passes Gretzky as NHL highest scoring player

Washington Capitals leader Alex Ovechkin netted goal No. 895 on Sunday, passing Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky to become the National Hockey League’s all-time goal-scoring leader.

Alex, on a pass from longtime teammate Tom Wilson, scored the record breaker in a 4-1 defeat against the NY Islanders with a power-play goal past fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin with 12:34 left in the 2^nd period – the 1,487^th match of his career, the same as Gretzky’s career total.

ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE GREATEST GOALSCORER IN NHL HISTORY! 🚨🚨🚨 #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/NKef3VvNaJ

— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025

With Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman watching the match, the clash stood still as players and supporters celebrated the historic moment.

More on this topic:

Ovechkin ties Gretzky with 894th career goal in emotional celebration

“Everyone claims that records are made to be broken, but at the moment I don’t know how somebody can score more than that,” shared Wayne, before shaking the new goal scorer leader’s hand.

“Hockey is a team sport and would not have achieved anything without my teammates during my career,” shared Alex after the historic moment. Ovechkin added that he loves his teammates so much and he is so happy to share that moment with them.

Alex Ovechkin once said it would be impossible to break Wayne Gretzky's goalscoring record.

Looks like he was wrong on that one 🤷 pic.twitter.com/Bt5a6KhBic

— ESPN (@espn) April 6, 2025