Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 894th career NHL goal with teammates during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. The 39-year-old Russian tied Wayne Gretzky’s record and has six games left this season t o take sole possession of the mark. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Former NHL player Wayne Gretzky, left, with Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, right, during a press conference after an NHL hockey game in which Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s NHL career goals record of 894th goals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington.(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 893rd goal in a hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 893rd goals with his teammates durign the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates after scoring his 894th career NHL goal during the third period of a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night in Washington. The 39-year-old Russian tied Wayne Gretzky’s record and has six games left this season to take sole possession of the mark. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrating his 894th goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) with goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) at the end of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Alex Ovechkin, jugador ruso de los Capitals de Washington, festeja tras anotar su gol número 894 en un partido ante los Blackhawks de Chicago, el viernes 4 de abril de 2025 (AP Foto/Nick Wass) Former NHL player Wayne Gretzky, left, with Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, right, during a press conference after an NHL hockey game in which Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s NHL career goals record of 894th goals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin speaking during a press conference after he tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record of 894th goals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington.(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin poses in the in the locker room with his 894th NHL career goal puck in an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Show Caption1 of 11Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 894th career NHL goal with teammates during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. The 39-year-old Russian tied Wayne Gretzky’s record and has six games left this season to take sole possession of the mark. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Expand By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin skated over to his son Sergei at the glass. He bowed to Wayne Gretzky standing in a suite. He blew kisses to his wife, mother and family on the other side of the arena. In signature dramatic fashion, Ovechkin scored the 894th goal of his career – and second of the game – to tie Gretzky’s NHL record and set off a wild celebration among his Washington Capitals teammates on the ice and in the stands of the only building he has called home for the past two decades. “I’m still a little shaking and still can’t believe it,” Ovechkin said with Gretzky sitting beside him after Washington’s 5-3 victory over Chicago on Friday night. “It’s history. It’s great for the game. It’s great to do it here. It’s special.” Another special moment awaits if and win Ovechkin scores his 895th goal to break one of hockey’s records that had looked unbreakable. But the chance to celebrate at home with Capitals players past and present and match Gretzky made it a moment Ovechkin will never forget. Neither will Gretzky, who along with Ovechkin is the league’s co-leading goal-scorer for the time being. “I can live with that for 24 more hours,” Gretzky said. “I can still say I’m tied for the most.” Ovechkin scored No. 894 from his spot in the left faceoff circle on the power play on a pass from longtime teammate John Carlson with 13:47 left in the third period. The goal – his 41st of the season and record-setting 136th game-winner to break a tie with Jaromir Jagr – caused teammates to spill off the bench and mob Ovechkin in the corner of the rink. “We kind of looked at each other just and said, ‘Screw it, I’m going,’” winger Tom Wilson said. “It was just so cool to be a part of it as a group.” Ovechkin’s goal song, “Shake, Rattle & Roll” by Big Joe Turner, blared from the speakers, and mascot Slapshot flipped the counter in one corner from 893 to 894 as fans rose to their feet and stayed there to applaud the accomplishment. The 39-year-old, who has spent his entire career with Washington, skated circles around center ice to implore for more, in between his emotional moments paying tribute to Gretzky and his family. “That was awesome,” said center Dylan Strome, who set up Ovechkin’s 893rd goal. “Like, you’re left speechless and they still got to play the game and try to find him for one more.” Amazingly, Ovechkin almost got another one. He had chances in the final 10 minutes and either missed the net or was denied by Spencer Knight, one of a record 182 different goaltenders he has scored on during his career. “I just guess I’m glad he didn’t get the last one,” Knight said. “But, yeah, it’s cool to see, it’s great for the sport.” One way Ovechkin refused to get No. 895 was into an empty net. He told Coach Spencer Carbery and others he wanted no part of passing Gretzky like that. “He wants to break the record with a goaltender in the crease, which I appreciate,” Carbery said. “He told me that on the bench, and I just wanted to confirm that he didn’t want to go out. And it’s hard for us as coaches because I just wanted to make sure in that moment: hat trick, at home. And he didn’t want to go out and score on an empty net to break the record. We have six games left, and he wants to break the record and have that moment where he’s shooting the puck past a goalie.” Afterward, Blackhawks players stayed on the ice to do a handshake line with Ovechkin, who gets his next chance to break the record Sunday at the New York Islanders. “Obviously very classy by the Hawks organization what they did tonight for ‘O’ and it’s as good as it gets,” Wilson said. “We have more to look forward to hopefully, but this was an incredible night.” Related Articles Ducks begin their march to the offseason in Vancouver Kings welcome playoff nemeses Oilers for matinee clash Ducks’ postseason hopes officially extinguished by Flames Kings use 3rd-period surge to beat Utah Kings sign Kenny Connors to entry-level contract ...read more read less