Today, hockey history was made.
Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin has officially passed the Great One Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all-time goal record, scoring No. 895.
A record that was once seen as untouchable now belongs to Ovechkin.
Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal came in fitting fashion—on the power play, from his signature spot at the top of the left circle. He beat fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin clean, notching his first career goal against the Islanders' netminder in the process.
This goal was originally projected to happen on April 12th against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it’s no longer something they’ll have to worry about defending.
The Blue Jackets will face the Capitals on April 12th and 13th in what will be their final back-to-back of the season. But now, they'll be part of the post-record rather than the spotlight of breaking the record itself.
Ovechkin has officially rewritten history—and the NHL has a new all-time goal king.