Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's 'untouchable' goal mark with 895

 Alex Ovechkin fired just about the perfect shot from the place on the ice that has defined his remarkable career. When the puck hit the net, it made him the top goal scorer in NHL history.

Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record by scoring his 895th career goal in the Washington Capitals’ game Sunday against the New York Islanders, beating fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on a power play with 12:34 left in the second period. He took a cross-ice pass from longtime teammate Tom Wilson and fired a laser past Sorokin with defenseman Jakob Chychrun screening.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery called it “the ultimate goal-scorer’s goal for the greatest of all time.”

With the excitement of a child, the 39-year-old belly flopped onto the ice as tens of thousands of fans around him cheered and chanted, “Ovi! Ovi!” while teammates streamed off the bench, mobbing him in celebration.

Ovechkin broke a record that appeared to be one of the most untouchable in sports. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made sure to point that out when he opened the 10-minute ceremony to celebrate the milestone.

“Wayne, you’ll always be the ‘Great One’ and you had a record that nobody ever thought would be broken,” Bettman said. “But Alex, you did it.”

Gretzky’s total of 894 goals had long seemed unapproachable. Ovechkin passed it even after missing 16 games in November and December because of a broken left leg, a testament to his durability and a knack for putting the puck in the net consistently for two decades. He surpassed 40 goals this season for a 14th time — two more than Gretzky and also the most in league history — and now has 42.

Ovechkin got a portrait of himself and Gretzky. Janet Gretzky presented a gift to Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, just as Colleen Howe did to her when her husband broke Gordie’s record back in 1994. Ovechkin got No. 895 in his 1,487th game — the same number Gretzky finished with.

Gretzky shook Ovechkin’s hand, embraced him and congratulated the “Great 8” and his family for the accomplishment.

“They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that,” Gretzky said.

More “Ovi!” chants followed. Plenty more will be coming as he attempts to reach 900.


(AP Photo Adam Hunger)