On Sunday Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th NHL career goal in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders, surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the NHL career goal record. The goal was scored 7 minutes and 26 seconds into the second period. It was a power play goal, from right behind the left circle. It was assisted by Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome. Like the record tying goal, the Caps players cleared the bench to celebrate their captain’s milestone. The game was put on pause to celebrate Ovechkin’s massive achievement.
The Islanders players shook his hand and congratulated him before the ceremony. During the ceremony the nine-time Rocket Richard winner received high praise from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and Wayne Gretzky. Bettman said, “Greatness starts with players like you and Wayne”. Gretzky said, “They say records are made to be broken but I am not sure who is going to get more goals than (Ovechkin)”.
Lastly, Ovechkin spoke. “It’s a team sport and without my boys, the whole organization, the fans, trainers, coaches, I would never stand there and obviously I would never pass the great one”. The 39-year-old added “And the most important thing, to my mom, my family, my beautiful wife, my father-in-law, my beautiful kids, thank you, I love you so much and without you, without your support I would never stay here.”
He also thanked Islanders’ goalie Ilya Sorokin in his speech. “Thank you, Ilya Sorokin, to let me score 895. love you brother”. Prior to Sundays’ game the Russian native was yet to score on Sorokin in the three prior times they faced each other. Sorokin is the 183rd goalie that Ovechkin has scored on in an NHL game. After the game Sorokin gave Ovechkin his stick from that play. When asked what he got in return Sorokin said, “Respect”.
Ovechkin had a chance to break the record in the Capitals previous game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Down by one goal late in the third period the Blackhawks pulled their goalie. However, Ovechkin did not want the record-breaking goal to come on an empty net. “He wants to beat the record with a goaltender in the crease”, said Caps Head Coach Spencer Carbery according to New York Post following the Capitals 5-3 win. After the record-breaking goal Carbery said, “It’s one of the biggest individual achievements in the history of sports and so it needs to be celebrated, and you want to try to do it respectfully inside of a game that needs to be completed, and I thought the NHL did an excellent job”.
