After matching Wayne Gretzky`s record with two goals on Friday at home, Alex Ovechkin made history on Sunday by scoring his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, overtaking Gretzky as the NHL`s all-time goals leader.
Despite being an away game, it was a momentous occasion. The NHL and the Islanders paused the game for a special ceremony to honor Ovechkin`s achievement as the Washington Capitals` most iconic player. Gretzky himself was present, delivering a congratulatory speech, the first of many accolades from prominent figures in sports and beyond.
Soon after Ovechkin achieved this new goal-scoring milestone, the NHL released a 90-second video compilation featuring congratulatory messages from numerous legendary personalities across sports and entertainment.
Unsurprisingly, many hockey icons such as Mark Messier, Sidney Crosby, Jeremy Roenick, Martin Brodeur, Sergey Federov, Marie-Philip Poulin, Hilary Knight, PK Subban, and Doc Emrick sent their regards to the Great Eight. Washington sports stars like Jayden Daniels, Elena Delle Donne, and Ryan Zimmerman also expressed their admiration for one of D.C.`s greatest athletes.
The league also gathered congratulations from other sports giants including Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, LeBron James, Roger Federer, Buster Posey, and Derek Jeter, as well as celebrities from TV, music, and film such as Steve Carrell, Snoop Dogg, Dave Coulier, Pat Monahan, Vince Vaughn, and Pat Sajak.
This diverse group of well-wishers highlights Ovechkin`s significant impact and his esteemed position not only within elite hockey but also in the broader world of sports.
