Wayne Gretzky congratulates Alex Ovechkin

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Alex Ovechkin scored twice against Chicago Friday to tie Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals
  • Gretzky watched from a suite at Capital One Arena, joining Ovechkin in the locker room after the game
  • Read below for details on how “The Great One” passed the torch to Ovechkin in a display of hockey tradition

Alex Ovechkin made hockey history Friday night, scoring twice against the Chicago Blackhawks to tie Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing NHL record of 894 career goals. And just as “The Great One” promised, he was there to witness it.

The integrity of the game was on full display as Gretzky watched from a suite at Capital One Arena while Ovechkin tied the mark that had stood unchallenged for 31 years.

Ovechkin’s record-tying goal came on a power play 6:13 into the third period, assisted by John Carlson and Andrew Mangiapane. It was classic Ovi – a power-play slap shot from his “office” near the left faceoff circle. As the crowd erupted, Ovechkin took a moment to bow toward Gretzky in the stands.

“This is what the game is all about. Alex has been great for the game, great for Washington, great for his own country,” Gretzky said during the broadcast. “It’s wonderful. I’m very proud of him.”

The moment echoed similar scenes from Gretzky’s own career, when he broke Gordie Howe’s record with his 802nd goal in 1994.

“When I was breaking Gordie Howe’s record, he was there. And I said 2 years ago that if Alex gets close to my record, I’ll be here,” Gretzky explained. “That’s the National Hockey League, right? From Beliveau to Howe, Orr, Lemieux, Messier, you pass it down.”


After Washington’s 5-3 win, the entire Blackhawks squad lined up to congratulate Ovechkin with fist bumps. Gretzky later joined the celebration in the Capitals’ locker room, sitting beside a still-shaking Ovechkin.

“I’m still a little shaking and still can’t believe it,” Ovechkin said. “It’s history. It’s great for the game. It’s great to do it here. It’s special.”

Gretzky’s presence at the milestone moment represents hockey’s tradition of respect and generational torch-passing. The NHL’s all-time points leader praised Ovechkin’s persistence, particularly impressive considering the Russian captain was sidelined for a month earlier this season with a broken leg.

“I hope, and you guys might not believe me, if somebody breaks Alex’s record, I hope Alex is there to shake his hand,” Gretzky added. “But right now, I hope Alex enjoys it, and he deserves all the credit and accolades he’s getting.”

The Capitals have six games remaining in the regular season, giving Ovechkin multiple opportunities to score goal 895 and take sole possession of hockey’s most prestigious scoring record.

In a sport where records are made to be broken, hockey’s class and character were on full display as one legend passed the torch to another.