- Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring mark Friday, April 4. Ovechkin scored two goals to reach 894 in a win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
- With Gretzky in attendance, Ovechkin scored his first less than 4 minutes into the game.
- His second goal came with just under 14 minutes remaining, and the game stopped momentarily as fans paid tribute to the longtime captain.
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Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is one goal from history. Friday, April 4, Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring mark, notching goal number 894 in a win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
How did Ovechkin tie Gretzky’s record?
The record-tying goal came in the third period and was Ovechkin’s second of the game. With “The Great One” in attendance, along with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Ovechkin’s family, the 39-year-old Russian winger got the party started with his first tally just 3:52 into the game.
He set up at the bottom of the right circle while Dylan Strome circled behind the net, with Ovechkin one-timing Strome’s pass past Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight to make it 1-0 Washington.
“The Great 8” has been on a torrid pace the last few weeks. He has 19 goals in his last 26 games and has scored in four straight contests for the Capitals, who are fighting to stay on top of the Eastern Conference standings with six games left in the regular season.
When can he break the record?
The record-tying goal came on the power play with 13:46 left in the game. Officials stopped play while fans rose to their feet to applaud the longtime captain. An emotional Ovechkin was mobbed by his teammates and skated several laps around the ice, listening to the cheers before returning to the bench.
Ovechkin can break the record Sunday, April 6, when the Capitals visit the New York Islanders. Gretzky, Ovechkin’s family and Commissioner Bettman will be in attendance.
What was Gretzky’s reaction?
Gretzky, who passed Gordie Howe to set the mark in 1994, was asked during an in-game interview about having company at the top of the list.
“This is what the game’s all about. Alex has been great for the game and great for Washington, great for his own country. It’s wonderful. I’m very proud of him,” Gretzky said. “I’m proud of what I accomplished, and that’s what makes our game so wonderful: the great athletes that we have and, more importantly, the good people that they are.”
With his two goals Friday, April 4, Ovechkin has reached 40 goals for the 14th time in his 20 seasons, which is the most in league history. He had three or four more chances to set the record in the final five minutes of the game.
The Capitals won it by a final of 5-3, with the record-tying goal turning out to be the game-winner. Ovechkin now has the most game-winners in NHL history (136), passing Jaromir Jagr.
20-year-old rookie Ryan Leonard, in just his third NHL game, scored his first career goal into the empty net to ice the victory.
