Ovechkin Goes Off; Ties Gretzky, Crowd Goes Wild

One week after Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby felled Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 19 seasons with at least a point per game, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin tied one of the most hallowed records in the NHL.

Ovechkin, 39, tied Gretzky, scoring his 893rd and 894th career goal Friday as the Capitals beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 at Capital One Arena.

The Washington crowd was on it’s feet for most of the game. Ovechkin scored less than four minutes into the game when he popped away from the crease and snapped a shot past Chicago goalie Spencer Knight.

With the first goal light, the buzz began.

Ovechkin ties Gretzky’s NHL goals record with Nos. 893, 894 | https://t.co/MkedDzqygN https://t.co/1XD0yPCEox

— Roller (@myfriendtheend) April 5, 2025

Ovechkin was not shy about shooting Friday, putting three on goal, two in the net, and missed six. The excitement reached a fever pitch later in the third period. Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s goal mark at 6:14 of the third period when he one-timed a pass in the left circle from John Carlson.

Ovechkin tied history with both Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in attendance. Gretzky and the commissioner will follow Ovechkin for the remainder of the season until he breaks the record.

OVECHKIN AGAIN! GOAL 894!!! 😱

HE’S TIED THE ALL-TIME GOALS RECORD! #Gr8Chase

🇺🇸: @NHLNetwork
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/JZ3OZKTfGn

— NHL (@NHL) April 5, 2025

He needs just one more.

The Blackhawks remained on the ice after the game for a handshake line with Ovechkin. We’ve come a long way since Sid the Kid vs. The Russian Machine, the rivalry that resuscitated the NHL following the 2004-05 lockout, which cost an entire season in order to get a salary cap.