Wayne Gretzky was on hand as Alex Ovechkin broke his all-time record by scoring his 895th career goal on Sunday. That was not the only pledge Gretzky followed through on, either.
Ovechkin scored his 895th goal with 12:34 to go in the second period of Sunday’s Washington Capitals game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.. The goal touched off wild celebrations, and the game was stopped for a ceremony to commemorate the achievement.
ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE GREATEST GOALSCORER IN NHL HISTORY! 🚨🚨🚨 #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/NKef3VvNaJ
— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025
Gretzky was on hand, just as he had promised, and spoke during the ceremony that followed. He made sure to follow through on something else he had said before about Ovechkin breaking his record.
“Alex, I said I’d be the first guy to shake your hand when you broke the record,” Gretzky said before he did so.
Wayne Gretzky's speech as he passes the torch to the NHL's newest goals King, Alex Ovechkin 🐐 pic.twitter.com/DrEiRWxZ3O
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 6, 2025
Gretzky added a neat touch by wearing a pin honoring Gordie Howe, who had held the record before Gretzky broke it and died in 2016. Gretzky alluded to that in his speech as well.
Gretzky also predicted that Ovechkin’s record might be impossible to break.
“They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that,” Gretzky said.
Gretzky has been highly supportive of Ovechkin’s record chase. His classy gestures on Sunday only further drove that home, and it was clear that Ovechkin was deeply appreciative of that support.
