Russian icon breaks all-time NHL record

Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin reached another NHL milestone on Sunday when he scored his 895 career goal, beating the record set by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky – a feat once thought to be untouchable.

The Washington Capitals forward became the NHL’s all-time greatest scorer in the second period of an away game against the New York Islanders on Sunday.

The 39-year-old Russian scored against his fellow countryman, goalie Ilya Sorokin – the first time Ovechkin has scored against him. The match was briefly delayed afterwards to honor the new record-holder.

During the ceremony that followed, Ovechkin thanked his teammates, coaches, and fans, saying hockey is a “team sport.”

“Thank you so much, I love you so much,” he said, adding that he would “not be standing here” without their support. He also jokingly thanked Sorokin for “letting [him] score.”

“We did it, boys, we did it!”

Ovechkin is a three-time world champion with the Russian national team and took home the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals, which he has spent his entire NHL career with. Gretzky, considered the greatest hockey player of all time, needed 1,487 games to tally 894 goals. Ovechkin was able to match him in his 1,486th game and to surpass him in the next one.