Alex Ovechkin has damaged Wayne Gretzky’s document for essentially the most objectives in NHL historical past by scoring the 895th of his profession.
The Washington Capitals’ captain made historical past Sunday in opposition to the New York Islanders by beating fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on an influence play within the second interval. Ovechkin had by no means scored on Sorokin earlier than, making his countryman the 183rd totally different goaltender he has crushed.
Simply as they did after he scored No. 894 minutes earlier, teammates mobbed the 39-year-old Russian to have fun the accomplishment, which changed a document that had stood for 31 years.
Gretzky’s whole of 894 objectives had lengthy appeared unapproachable. Ovechkin handed it even after lacking 16 video games in November and December due to a damaged left leg, a testomony to his sturdiness and a knack for placing the puck within the internet persistently for twenty years. He surpassed 40 objectives this season for a 14th time — two greater than Gretzky and in addition essentially the most in league historical past.
Even earlier than this, Ovechkin owned the NHL information for power-play objectives, photographs on aim and essentially the most goalies scored in opposition to, now including Sorokin to that listing. Solely Gretzky has extra multi-goal video games, and Ovechkin earlier this season grew to become simply the sixth participant with 700 objectives and 700 assists, becoming a member of Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito.
Ovechkin final moved up the all-time goal-scoring listing Dec. 23, 2022, when he obtained Nos. 801 and 802 to tie and go Howe.
The chase by the Nice 8, a nickname honoring his jersey quantity, captured consideration from North America to Ovechkin’s native Russia, the place billboards and goal-counters cheered on and tracked his effort. It helped Ovechkin that his group is among the finest within the NHL this season, defying expectations.
Gretzky broke Howe’s document somewhat over 31 years in the past, since he scored 802 on March 23, 1994. He added 92 extra earlier than retiring in 1999 after a complete of 1,487 video games over 20 seasons.
Even with this one falling to Ovechkin — which he has mentioned he’s enthusiastic about — Gretzky holds 55 NHL information, and two appear really untouchable: 2,857 whole factors and 1,963 assists, the latter of which is greater than anybody else has in objectives and assists mixed.
For NHL playoff objectives, which don’t depend towards the document, Gretzky has essentially the most (122). Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky additionally had one other 56 within the World Hockey Affiliation common season and playoffs, whereas Ovechkin has 57 from his time within the KHL, Russia’s prime league.
Returning to Russia to play in entrance of household and pals is an possibility sooner or later for Ovechkin, who has one season left after this one on the five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021, which took him by means of age 40 to present him sufficient time to chase Gretzky’s document. As a substitute, he obtained it carried out earlier than simply about anybody may have realistically anticipated.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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