Alex Ovechkin has etched his name in NHL history as the league`s top goal scorer. On Sunday, he scored his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders, overtaking the legendary Wayne Gretzky for the all-time record.
In the second period, during a Washington Capitals power play, Ovechkin received a pass from Tom Wilson and unleashed a wrist shot that flew past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. The crowd at UBS Arena, including opposing fans, erupted in cheers as Ovechkin celebrated on the ice.
Following the goal, an on-ice ceremony took place, featuring speeches from both Gretzky and Ovechkin, and a video tribute from prominent figures in various sports.
After the game, Ovechkin spoke to reporters about the overwhelming feeling of surpassing `The Great One.` He also expressed the significance of having former teammates present and the relief of finally achieving the record after considerable anticipation.
Here’s what Ovechkin shared in his postgame press conference about breaking Gretzky`s all-time goals record:
On his feelings about breaking Wayne Gretzky`s record:
`Honestly, even when I was tying the record, it felt unreal. It was incredibly emotional and such a special night. But this achievement is even more unbelievable. I think it will take me days, maybe weeks, to fully grasp what it means to be number one.`
`I am deeply proud of myself, my family, and all my teammates and coaches who have supported me in reaching this milestone. It`s a monumental and incredible moment.`
On whether he feels a sense of relief:
`Yes, finally, I won`t have to answer those questions anymore – “When do you think you`ll break it?” It`s done now, so people will have to find something else to ask. For me and the team, it`s a joyous time. It`s amazing to see how many people came from all over to witness this moment. It`s truly special.`
On Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin gifting him his stick:
`I immediately told him, “I need that stick.”… He didn`t ask for anything in return.`
On his belly flop celebration after the record-breaking goal:
`The ice wasn`t great today. I slipped, but I think it made for a cool moment. It was fun.`
On the attention this brings to hockey:
`It`s fantastic. It`s great for hockey, for D.C., for Washington, and for us to be a part of this. I’m sure there’s a huge celebration happening in D.C. right now, and back home in Russia, people are celebrating too. I`m just happy to be involved.`
On his longtime teammates Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie being present:
`When I saw Nicky, I almost cried. He`s been such a crucial part of my success. We`ve grown together, played together, and been through so much. Having him and Oshie here in this moment is incredible support, as it always has been. I tell them, “Without you guys, I would have never reached this milestone.”`
On Sorokin congratulating him after being scored on:
`Before the game, Dylan Strome and I were talking about how I`d never scored on him before. I think I`ve only played against him a couple of times. It`s kind of a historical moment – a Russian player scoring against a Russian goalie to break the record. It`s pretty cool. He’s a great guy, and my kids love him. It’s a tremendous moment and a tremendous day for hockey.`
On Tom Wilson assisting on the record-breaking goal:
`He`s an incredible person. He can do anything – fight, handle any situation. I`m thrilled for him and for Strome. Strome is probably one of the happiest people right now because he`s obsessed with stats and history, and he wanted to be part of this.`
On his thoughts during the power play:
`Throughout the first period, we had good opportunities, but Sorokin made some great saves. It was just about the situation, game by game, shift by shift. Tom made a great pass, and I just shot, and it went in.`
On receiving a congratulatory video from stars like LeBron James and Michael Jordan:
`It`s such a cool moment to get a video from legends. It`s something I`ll cherish forever, and I`m grateful to them for it. I`m happy and looking forward to going home.`
