Alex Ovechkin scored career goal number 895 in the Washington Capitals loss to the New York Islanders. He had the only goal as the Caps fell 4-1 but what Ovechkin did to get there wasn't lost on anybody. He overcame a lot to get here. Now he's the best goal scorer in the entire NHL.
More on the historic achievement
When the puck left Ovechkin's stick and went into the net you could feel the entire DMV inside the Big Apple with all the Caps fans that showed up. Ovi did the most epic celebration ever sliding on his belly almost replicating the foutain dive he did with T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom after winning the Cup.
"I still can't believe it," Ovechkin said afterwards.
"To be honest with you, when I was tying the record, I still can't believe it. It was so emotional, it was such a great night, but this is something crazy. I'm probably going to need a couple more days or maybe a couple weeks to realize what it means to be number one. But I can say I'm very proud. I'm really proud for myself. I'm really proud for my family, for all my teammates that help me to reach that milestone and for all my coaches. It's huge. It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable moment and I'm happy. "Alex Ovechkin
Tom Wilson added, "It's just an honor to be living through this and to see (what Ovechkin has accomplished). You know, 10 year old me or 10 year old any of us, to be in a room with Wayne and Ovechkin during this moment is so special. He's taken us on this amazing journey, and it'll be the honor of my career to play with him, learn so much from him, win with him and watch him score this goal. There's no words to describe it."
Ilya Sorokin was the goalie who surrendered number 895. Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome had the assists on the historic marker which came on the power play. This season it was Ovechkin's 42nd. A reminder that he's 39 years old and is in his 20th year in the League all with the team that drafted him.
Ovechkin's goal comes on the 21st anniversay of the Capitals winning the draft lottery with the chance to take this once in a generation type athlete from Russia. It also comes on the birthday of the first goaltender he played with in Olie Kolzig.
Ovechkin had doubters, haters even, who said he would never get this record. Just like he did after winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, Ovechkin silenced those doubters once and for all by passing Gretzky in New York on Sunday afternoon. Now Ovechkin and his teammates can refocus for the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs.