The game was stopped for about 10 minutes for a ceremony at center ice that included Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, and two sons, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, Gretzky and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
“Wayne, you’ll always be The Great One and you had a record that nobody ever thought would be broken,” Bettman said. “But Alex, you did it. You’ve been amazing.”
Gretzky, who was in Washington on Friday when Ovechkin tied his record, said he’s not sure this record will ever be topped.
“I wish the Islanders and the New York fans all the best, but we’re here today to celebrate this guy here, No. 8,” Gretzky said. “I can tell you firsthand, I know how hard it is to get 894. 895 is pretty special. My congratulations to not only Alex, his mom and dad, his family, his wife and kids. When I broke the record, my two kids were about the age of his boys, so it’s kind of reminiscent for me and I’m so happy that two of my boys are here tonight. But there’s nothing better than the National Hockey League. They say records are made to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that. It’s the greatest game in the world. I want to congratulate every organization, the Commissioner and the League.
“… Alex, I said I’d be the first guy to shake your hand when you broke the record (shake hands and hugged) and one last thing before Alex speaks, one of the great things about my setting the record, Colleen Howe bought my wife a beautiful gift and wonderful note and we know how the legacy of hockey passes down, but also it does it with the families and the wives, so my wife has something very beautiful for his lovely wife that we want to pass on. But Mr. Leonsis, congratulations, and when I set the record, they bought me a Rolls-Royce, so you’ve got your work cut out.”
The goal capped what has been an incredible run by Ovechkin to get the record; scoring six times during a five-game goal streak.
“Every moment since the first day in training camp, we’re chasing a great moment in hockey,” Ovechkin said Friday “I didn’t put pressure on myself a lot, and I was enjoying this moment and I’m still enjoying it. It’s such a great moment for hockey.”
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 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.
“My dad told me that same night, ‘Be as proud of the guy that breaks your record,'” Gretzky said Friday.
Before then, Howe held the NHL goal record since scoring his 545th on Nov. 10, 1963, to overtake Maurice Richard, who scored 544 goals.
Ovechkin has 42 goals in 61 games this season. He scored his 895th goal in his 1,487th NHL regular-season game, all with Washington, which selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft.
“Two years ago when people said to me, ‘Do you think Alex is going to break the record?’ I said, ‘It’s not a matter of it, it’s a matter of when,'” Gretzky said. “And when he does, I’m going to be there. And so, I’m here.”
Gretzky scored 894 goals in 1,487 NHL regular-season games with the Edmonton Oilers, Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers before retiring in 1999. He scored his 894th and final goal playing for the Rangers against the Islanders on March 29, 1999.
