Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record with his 895th goal

On 6 April 2025, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals scored his 895th regular-season goal in the National Hockey League (NHL), moving past Wayne Gretzky's career record of 894. The goal came at home in Washington against the New York Islanders, and Gretzky was in the arena to see it.

Gretzky had set the mark by the time he retired in 1999, and it was long considered one of the sport's untouchable records. Ovechkin, a Russian forward who joined the Capitals in 2005, chased it for years, scoring consistently into his late thirties. The chase drew worldwide attention and was followed closely in both North America and Russia.

The milestone also carried a political dimension. Ovechkin has long been publicly associated with Vladimir Putin and has not condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. Critics, including many Ukrainians and Ukrainian Canadians, argued that the NHL should not celebrate him. That tension is why his appearances, including games in Canada, have since drawn protests.