Alex Ovechkin has etched his name into NHL history, becoming the league`s all-time leading scorer. On Sunday, he netted his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders, overtaking the legendary Wayne Gretzky.
In the second period, during a Washington Capitals power play, Ovechkin received a pass from Tom Wilson and unleashed a powerful wrist shot that flew past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. The crowd at UBS Arena, including Islanders 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 addressed reporters, sharing his feelings about surpassing `The Great One`. He spoke about the significance of having former teammates present and the relief of finally achieving this long-awaited record.
Here`s what Ovechkin had to say in his post-game press conference after breaking Gretzky`s all-time goal record:
On breaking Wayne Gretzky`s Record:
“Honestly, when I was approaching the record, it felt surreal. It was incredibly emotional, a truly special night. But this… this is even more unbelievable. I think it will take some time, maybe weeks, to fully grasp what it means to be number one.”
“I am incredibly proud, for myself, my family, all my teammates who have supported me, and all my coaches. This is monumental, an absolutely incredible moment.”
On the Pressure Being Lifted:
“Yes, finally, I won`t have to answer those questions anymore, `When are you going to break it?` It`s done! Now, you all have to find something else to ask. For me and the team, it`s a joyous time. Seeing so many people come from all over to witness this moment is truly special.”
On Ilya Sorokin Giving Him the Stick:
“I told him right away, `I need that stick.`… He didn`t ask for anything in return.”
On the Belly Flop Celebration:
“The ice wasn`t great today. I just fell, but I think it turned out to be a pretty cool moment. It was fun.”
On the Attention Brought to Hockey:
“It`s fantastic. It`s great for hockey, for D.C., for Washington. It`s wonderful for us to be 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. They`re happy, and I`m just happy to be a part of it.”
On Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie Being There:
“When I saw Nicky, I almost cried. He`s been such a massive part of my success. We’ve grown up together, played together through so much. Having him and Oshie here in that moment, it`s incredible. Their support has always been there. I told them, `Without you, I would have never reached this.`”
On Sorokin`s Congratulations After Being Scored On:
“Before the game, Dylan Strome and I were talking about how I`d never scored on him. I think I`ve only played him twice. It`s kind of a historic thing, a Russian scoring on a Russian to break the record. It`s pretty cool. He`s a great guy. My kids love him. It`s a tremendous moment, a tremendous day for hockey.”
On Tom Wilson`s Assist:
“He`s an amazing guy. He can do anything. He can fight, he can handle any situation. I`m so happy for him, and for Strome too. Strome is probably one of the happiest people right now because he`s obsessed with stats. He knows everything, and he wants to be part of history.”
On His Mindset During the Power Play:
“Throughout the first period, we had good chances, but Sorokin made great saves. It’s just about playing shift by shift, game by game, and seeing what happens. Tom made a great pass, I shot, and it went in.”
On the Congratulatory Video from Legends:
“Having a video from legends like LeBron James and Michael Jordan is such a cool moment for me. It`s something I`ll cherish forever, and I`m so thankful to them for it. I`m happy and ready to go home.”
