Ovechkin Breaks Gretzky’s Record

Russian forward and Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin rewrote NHL history once again. In early April, he scored his 895th goal in the regular season, surpassing Wayne Gretzky, who had long been considered the untouchable record holder. The goal in a game against the New York Islanders was the moment fans around the world had been waiting for. The result was symbolic: both Ovechkin and Gretzky reached their respective marks after the same number of games, 1,487.

The Washington captain’s accomplishments didn’t end there. Just a few days later, he set another historic milestone. The game against the Carolina Hurricanes was his 1,488th in the regular season. He surpassed Gretzky in games and moved into 26th place in NHL history. Among active hockey players, only Brent Burns and Ryan Suter remain ahead. Patrick Marleau, who retired in 2022 with 1,779 games played, remains the all-time record holder.

The significance of Ovechkin’s achievements is heightened by the fact that he has played for Washington since the very beginning of his NHL career. He was selected first overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and has been a fixture with the club since 2005. His career is filled with awards. He was named the regular season’s Most Valuable Player three times, led the league in goals nine times, won the Player of the Year Award three times, and was once named the league’s top scorer. In 2018, Ovechkin hoisted the Stanley Cup, becoming the first captain in the club’s history to do so.

He also made a significant contribution to the success of the Russian national team. He won three world championships, silver and bronze medals at the World Championships, and participated in three Olympic Games. His international career is considered one of the most illustrious among modern Russian hockey players.

Wayne Gretzky, whom Ovechkin is gradually overtaking in the statistical rankings, remains the greatest player of past eras. He holds the record for points and assists in regular season history, as well as dozens of awards. Gretzky is a four-time Stanley Cup winner and remains a defining figure of an entire NHL era.

Washington’s success this season complements the Russian forward’s accomplishments. The team became the first in the league to reach 100 points and secured a playoff spot early, continuing to lead the Eastern Conference. They have four games left in the regular season. Their next match will be against the Columbus Blue Jackets.