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NHL Fans Respond To Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin Matching Wayne Gretzky’s All-Time Goal-Scoring Record

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NHL Fans Respond To Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin Matching Wayne Gretzky’s All-Time Goal-Scoring Record

Two goals from matching Wayne Gretzky’s NHL all-time goal-scoring record, Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin embraced the spotlight. 

Three minutes 52 seconds into Friday night’s matchup against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks and with “The Great One” in attendance at Capital One Arena, Ovechkin scored after receiving a behind-the-net pass from center Dylan Strome and banking the shot off the far post and goalie Spencer Knight’s back. 

Chanting “Ovie … Ovie … Ovie,” fans celebrated career goal No. 893, one shy of the record. 

“I’m so proud of the fact that I’m here tonight,” Gretzky said, as reported by The Associated Press. “The commissioner I talked to the other day, and Alex said don’t come here until I get to two. I thought yesterday, ‘Gosh, we better get on the plane and get up there because he might get three tonight.’ When he scored four minutes in, I thought, ‘Oh my God, we might be able to leave after the first period.’ ” 

Gretzky was forced to wait until the 6:13 mark of the third period to witness Ovechkin tie his goal mark and provide the Capitals with the game-winner during a 5-3 decision over the Blackhawks. 

“It’s so hard,” Gretzky said. “I don’t care what era you play in: ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, it’s hard to score goals.” 

X (Twitter) users responded to Ovechkin not only matching Gretzky, but passing Jaromir Jagr for another milestone marker … 

 The moment “Ovie” matched the “Great One” … 

Ovechkin celebrated with members of his family after notching career goal No. 894 … 

Two of the best … 

Friday night’s first marker, Ovechkin’s 40th of the season, extended his goal-scoring streak to four games … 

Ovechkin reached the 40-goal milestone for the 14th time in his 20-year NHL career. At 39 years old, he accomplished the feat after breaking his leg mid-season and missing five weeks … 

 The top five … 

One more marker remains for Ovechkin to establish an all-time mark. With six regular-season games remaining, the Capitals return Sunday at the New York Islanders … 

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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