WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record by scoring the 894th of his career Friday night, setting off a wild celebration on the ice with his teammates and chants of “Ovi! Ovi!” by a crowd that included The Great One himself.
Ovechkin scored on the power play with 13:46 left, stopping the game while fans rose to their feet to applaud the longtime Washington Capitals captain. Clearly emotional, he skated several laps around center ice asking for more cheers, then returned to the bench where he blew kisses to members of his family in a suite.
A video montage of Ovechkin’s path to 894 played on arena video boards during the next stoppage in play.
The Capitals went on to beat the Blackhawks 5-3, with Ovechkin’s goal proving the game winner. He now has the most winners in NHL history (136), passing Jaromir Jagr.
Ovechkin can break Gretzky’s record Sunday when Washington visits the New York Islanders.
“It’s fun,” Ovechkin said after the game. “I’m sure like everybody enjoy this moment because it’s something special, doing it at home in front of our fans, family and friends, and obviously Wayne is here, as well. It’s a huge honor, a historical moment. It’s great.
“It means a lot. It’s so emotional. You never thought you could reach that milestone.”
Gretzky was in attendance for the first time during this chase. He saluted Ovechkin for reaching 894.
“This is what the game is all about,” Gretzky told Monumental Sports Network. “Alex has been great for the game, great for Washington, great for his own country. He’s wonderful. I’m very proud of him. I’m proud of what I accomplished. And you know, that’s what makes our game so wonderful, is the great athletes we have, and more importantly, the good people that they are.”
Ovechkin gave Gretzky and nearly everyone else in the building reason to cheer early by scoring his 893rd goal less than four minutes in. He took a pass from Dylan Strome behind the net and banked the puck off the far post and the back of goaltender Spencer Knight and in.
After a few seconds, Ovechkin’s personal goal song, “Shake, Rattle & Roll” by Big Joe Turner, started blaring from arena speakers as mascot Slapshot flipped the counter in one corner from 892 to 893.
The celebration continued throughout the game — and then spilled over after it, with Capitals players mobbing Ovechkin when he entered the dressing room.
“Best shower of my life” pic.twitter.com/gsOM9EabrV
— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 5, 2025
Scoring in a fourth consecutive game, Ovechkin reached 40 goals for a 14th time in 20 seasons, which is the most in league history. It’s the second 40-goal season ever by a player age 39 or older, joining Gordie Howe (44 in 1968-69 at age 40).
It also was Ovechkin’s 242nd career first-period goal, breaking a tie with Gretzky for the most in league history.
“You know, when (Mark) Messier retired and Gordie Howe retired, and (Mario) Lemieux retired and Bobby Orr retired, we thought, ‘What’s going to happen to our game now?'” Gretzky said. “And then along came Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. And now we got (Connor) McDavid and (Nathan) MacKinnon, (Auston) Matthews. Our game just gets better all the time. And that’s what’s so special.”
The Eastern Conference-leading Capitals have six games left in the regular season.
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.
