Russian forward and captain of the Washington Capitals, Alexander Ovechkin, has equaled Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals scored in regular-season games of the National Hockey League (NHL). Gretzky’s record had stood for 26 years.

The Washington Capitals hosted a home game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Just three minutes into the match, the Russian star scored from an assist by Dylan Strome. In the final period, Ovechkin capitalized on a power play with a shot from the left faceoff circle, often referred to as “Ovechkin’s office.” The game concluded with a 5-3 victory for the Washington Capitals.

Wayne Gretzky scored his 894th goal during his 1,487th NHL game in March 1999. It took Alexander Ovechkin 1,486 games to reach the same milestone.

Additionally, the Russian player broke the record for game-winning goals held by Czech hockey star Jaromir Jagr, with 136 compared to Jagr’s 135.

Ovechkin began his NHL career in the 2005/2006 season and is currently playing his 20th season with the Washington Capitals. In 2018, he led the team to win the Stanley Cup. Gretzky also played 20 NHL seasons, from 1979/1980 to 1998/1999.

Photo: All-Pro Reels/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0