Alex Ovechkin just made NHL history and his reaction might surprise you
Photo credit: Imagn Images
On April 6, Alex Ovechkin wrote his name permanently into NHL history by surpassing Wayne Gretzky's legendary record to become the league's all-time leading goal scorer.
With his 896th career goal, the Washington Capitals captain claimed a title many believed was unbreakable in the modern era.
Alex Ovechkin has now spent his entire career with the Capitals since debuting in the 2005-06 season and he is known for his lethal shot and relentless scoring touch.
He's been one of hockey's most iconic figures for nearly two decades and after years of chasing Wayne Gretzky's mark, the Russian superstar finally caught and passed it by solidifying his place among the sport's all-time greats.
On Monday, Ovechkin joined The Pat McAfee Show to reflect on the magnitude of his achievement.
"Nobody thought that I could break the record but I just kept getting closer and closer," he said. "It's been crazy and it was great for hockey. Without my teammates and family I would have never reached that milestone."
During his 1,489 NHL games, Alex Ovechkin has now recorded 896 goals and 1,621 points by maintaining a career shooting percentage of 13.1% and he continues to defy age and expectations, even as his career begins to wind down.
To commemorate the record, Alex Ovechkin received a six-foot sculpture which included concrete casts of his skates, a pair of actual skates and a game-used stick which is a symbolic tribute to the journey that led to hockey immortality.
While no one knows exactly when Ovechkin will hang up the skates, one thing is certain and it's that his goal record will stand as one of the sport's greatest milestone for generations to come.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 14 | 57 ANSWERS Alex Ovechkin just made NHL history and his reaction might surprise you Do you think Alex Ovechkin is the greatest scorer of all time in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 98.2 % |
| No | 1 | 1.8 % |
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