Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's record: a hockey fairy tale comes true!

Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's record: a hockey fairy tale comes true!

In a thrilling moment in NHL history, Alex Owetschkin equaled Wayne Gretzky's legendary goalscoring record. On April 5, 2025, the 39-year-old Washington Capitals forward scored a game-winning goal in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring his 894th career goal. This happened in the 47th minute of the game, when Ovechkin made it 4-3 on the power play after he had previously scored the first goal of the encounter in the fourth minute. The fans recognized his impressive skills with loud applause and the slogan “Ovi, Ovi”, while his two sons also created an emotional moment in the audience. This was done by the Small newspaper reported.

Wayne Gretzky (894 goals in 1,487 games) and Ovechkin (894 goals in 1,486 games) have now moved toward each other in their unprecedented careers. Gretzky, who retired in 1999, spoke positively about Ovechkin during the Washington game, calling him “something special.” The record, which has been in the history books since March 23, 1994, was long considered untouchable. The opportunity for Ovechkin to surpass this record could come as early as next Sunday in the away game against the New York Islanders, where he has the chance to become the sole record holder.

Historical responsibility and records

Ovechkin is currently playing in his 20th NHL season and has already scored 41 goals this season. Despite an injury that kept him out of action for over a month, he showed exceptional resilience and his signature scoring style. He is often used to score with a one-timer from the left side - a technique that is particularly effective on power plays. With this goal he also overtook Jaromir Jagr and now holds the record for most game-winning goals (136) in the NHL. The records for power play goals (324) and overtime goals (27) or the most 30-goal seasons (19) also illustrate his dominance in the sport.

The NHL plans to have Wayne Gretzky and Commissioner Gary Bettman present at upcoming games to celebrate Ovetschkin's potential record break. However, Ovechkin himself has emphasized that he would not be disappointed if the record chase continues into the fall. In his career, Ovechkin achieved several peak performances, including his first goals, which he scored in his debut game on October 5, 2005. During this time he had a decisive influence on the NHL and, together with Sidney Crosby, was a central part of the league's renewal after the lockout in the 2004/2005 season. This is done by NPR as well as from NHL underlined.

Ovechkin's story in the NHL is not only a testament to his athletic ability, but also a tale of perseverance, passion and a deep connection to the game. With every goal he scores, he continues to make history and inspire countless young athletes around the world.