Ovechkin Ties Gretzky’s NHL Goal Record in Thrilling Capitals Win

On a historic night at Capital One Arena, Alex Ovechkin etched his name alongside Wayne Gretzky atop the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list. The Washington Capitals captain scored twice—his 893rd and 894th career goals—in a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, April 4, 2025, tying Gretzky’s long-standing record of 894. With “The Great One” himself watching from the stands, Ovechkin’s performance was a blend of skill, luck, and sheer determination, capped by a record-breaking 136th game-winning goal that surpassed Jaromir Jagr’s mark.

A Night to Remember

The buzz was palpable before the puck even dropped. Fans chanted “Ovi” as the 39-year-old superstar took the ice, just two goals shy of Gretzky’s hallowed mark. Ovechkin didn’t keep them waiting long. At 3:52 of the first period, he fired a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle off a pinpoint pass from Dylan Strome. The puck clanged off the left post, ricocheted off Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight’s back, and trickled in for a 1-0 Capitals lead. “That’s what he does—it’s impressive,” Knight said. “Good goal scorers get bounces. He knows how to find space.”

The record-tying moment came in the third period, with the game knotted at 3-3. On a power play at 6:13, Ovechkin stationed himself in his signature “office” in the left circle and unleashed another one-timer, this time off a feed from John Carlson, to give Washington a 4-3 edge. The crowd erupted, teammates spilled off the bench, and Ovechkin took a victory lap—fist-bumping his son Sergei at the glass, bowing to Gretzky in a suite, and soaking in the adulation of 18,573 fans. “It’s a special moment,” Ovechkin said post-game, a Bud Light in hand. “It’s great for hockey, great for D.C., great for our fans to do it here.”

A Game of Momentum

The Blackhawks didn’t make it easy. Tyler Bertuzzi tied it 1-1 late in the first, tapping in a cross-crease pass from Landon Slaggert. Frank Nazar, assisted by rookie Oliver Moore for his first NHL point, put Chicago up 2-1 just 31 seconds into the second. “That was a surreal game,” Moore said, marveling at the atmosphere. Philipp Kurashev extended the lead to 3-2, burying a rebound at 7:19. But the Capitals fought back. Martin Fehervary knotted it at 2-2, and Strome’s deflected shot tied it again at 3-3 in the third, setting the stage for Ovechkin’s heroics.

Ryan Leonard, a 20-year-old in his third NHL game, sealed the 5-3 win with an empty-netter at 18:24—his first career goal. “It’s cool to score,” Leonard said, “but I witnessed history tonight. That guy’s scored a lot of goals, so I think it’s even cooler.”

The Legend Continues

Ovechkin’s 894th goal wasn’t just a record-tying tally—it was his 136th game-winner, breaking Jagr’s mark and cementing his clutch legacy. At 41 goals in 60 games this season, including 19 in his last 26, the Capitals captain is defying age and a mid-season fractured fibula. “Everyone’s focused on the record, but he’s playing amazing hockey,” linemate Tom Wilson said. “He’s our leader, a huge part of our success.” With 14 seasons of 40+ goals—three of them past age 35—Ovechkin stands alone in NHL history.

Strome, who assisted on the first goal and scored himself, praised the electric crowd: “It felt like playoffs. They were chanting ‘Ovi’ before the game even started.” Carlson added three assists, and Charlie Lindgren stopped 19 shots for the Capitals (49-18-9), who’ve won two of their last three.

Chicago’s Resilience

The Blackhawks (21-45-10) showed fight despite their fifth straight loss. Nazar’s goal-and-assist night and Moore’s two helpers highlighted a young core battling through a 1-10-1 skid. “We hung in there for two periods,” interim coach Anders Sorensen said. “Then they got momentum in the third, and the penalties hurt us.” Knight made 24 saves but couldn’t stop Ovechkin’s barrage. “You create your own luck,” he said of the first goal’s bounce. “It’s not by mistake.”

A Nod to Greatness

Gretzky, who texted Ovechkin to “score three” before the game, watched his record fall into shared hands. “It’s always a pleasure to be in that category with those names,” Ovechkin said, grinning beside Gretzky at the press conference. The Capitals declined a late empty-net chance to break the record—Ovechkin waved off coach Spencer Carbery, preferring to surpass Gretzky with a goalie in net. “I told Carbs right away I don’t want to do it,” he said. “Let’s wait.”

What’s Next?

With six games left, Ovechkin’s next shot at history comes Sunday against the New York Islanders. The Capitals faithful—and the hockey world—await the moment “The Great Eight” stands alone. For now, he shares the throne with Gretzky, a testament to 20 years of brilliance. As Wilson put it, “You never doubt him. It’s pretty special what I’ve witnessed my whole career here.”

By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer