NEW YORK (AP) – Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record, the most goal in NHL history, by winning the 895th of his career.
The Washington Capitals captain made history against New York Islanders on Sunday, beating a ally of Russian Ilya Sorokin in the second season of power play. Ovechkin never scored in Sorokin before, making his compatriot the 183rd different goaltender he beat.
Just as he did after scoring 894 minutes ago, his teammates rioted the 39-year-old Russian to celebrate their achievements.
Greetzky’s total of 894 goals seemed unapproved for a long time. Ovechkin passed it for evidence of his durability and for his tricks to keep the puck consistent for 20 years, even after missing 16 games in November and December due to his broken left leg. He has surpassed 40 goals for the 14th time this season. More than two than Gretzky, and the most in league history.
Even before this, Ovechkin owned NHL records for power play goals, shots at goals, and most goalkeeper scoring, adding Sorokin to that list. Although Greetzky only has a multi-goal game, Ovechkin became the sixth player with 700 goals and 700 assists earlier this season, joining Greetzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito.
Ovechkin finally put up the highest goalscoring list of all time on December 23, 2022.
The great 8 chase, a nickname that honors the numbers on his jersey, attracted attention from North America to Ovechkin’s native Russia. He helped Ovechkin defy expectations, hoping that his team will be one of the best in the NHL this season.
Greetzky broke Howe’s record more than 31 years ago, since winning 802 on March 23, 1994. He added 92 before resigning in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.
He says he’s excited even if this falls to Ovechkin, but Greetzky holds 55 NHL records, with the two appearing to have 2,857 points and 1,963 assists.
Greetzky has the most for NHL playoff goals that don’t count on records (122). Ovechkin has 72. Greetzky had 56 in the regular season and playoffs of the World Hockey Association, while Ovechkin has 57 in the KHL, the top league in Russia.
Returning to Russia to play in front of family and friends is an option at some point for Ovechkin, who left one season on a five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021. Instead, he accomplished it faster than anyone could realistically expect.
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