Alexander Ovechkin pokes fun at Ilya Sorokin during celebration speech

Alex Ovechkin, the man who's defined goal-scoring excellence for nearly two decades has officially passed Wayne Gretzky with his 895th career NHL goal and in classic Ovechkin fashion, it came off a signature one-timer from his office.

But beyond the milestone, the reaction reminded us why Alexander Ovechkin is more than just goal scorer -- he's a beloved member of the league.

After the puck found the back of the net, the crowd roared and players on both sides tapped their sticks as the New York Islanders lined up to shake his hand.

But the moment that truly stood out during the event? Ovechkin skated over to fellow Russian and Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin and giving him a warm hug and joking:

A historic goal shared between friends.

Alex Ovechkin's rise from a young phenom in 2005 to the greatest goal-scorer of all time is a journey built on passion, power, and unmatched consistency to score big goals.

And while he's always been a fierce competitor, moments like this where rivals become brothers and history is met with humility shows why he's respected across the league.

Gretzky was in attendance to watch Ovechkin break a record many used to think would never be touched. The 64-year-old had held the mark since scoring his 802nd goal to surpass the previous record of 801 goals held by Gordie Howe while playing for the Los Angeles Kings against the Vancouver Canucks at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles on March 23, 1994.

Congratulations to Alexander Ovechkin!