NHL history was made on Sunday, April 6th, 2025. Alex Ovechkin, the world’s most decorated goal-scorer, officially passed Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals scored in the NHL, scoring his 895th goal against the New York Islanders.

The goal itself was straight out of a storybook. Ovechkin received a cross-ice pass from teammate Tom Wilson, wound up and fired the puck from his off-wing like he’s done so many times in the past, beating Islanders goaltender and fellow countryman Ilya Sorokin to pot the historic marker. The Brooklyn crowd erupted as if it was a home game, his teammates celebrated like he just scored a Stanley Cup-winning goal, and he did a penguin slide-style celebration before being mobbed at centre ice. Pair it with the fact that Gretzky was in attendance, whose final goal also came against the Islanders, and you truly couldn’t have scripted it any better.

Messages of congratulations started pouring in from around the league, including one from Toronto Maple Leafs captain and fellow decorated goal scorer Auston Matthews.

“One of my favourite players since you came into the league,” Matthews said. “Love watching you, it’s been an honour to compete against you.”

Many Maple Leafs personnel spoke about Ovechkin’s incoming accomplishment after he tied Gretzky’s record, with all of them sharing the same sentiment about the privilege it’s been to watch him throughout his career.

“That’s a record that nobody really thought was going to be touched,” Max Domi said ahead of Saturday night’s Leafs game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. “So, to do that and still be going strong, it’s pretty remarkable.”

“Obviously, he can shoot the puck, finds little holes and he’s extremely smart at getting into space and losing his checks,” defenceman Chris Tanev said. “Finding those pockets where he’s able to unload his release…he’s got a bunch of different types of shots, and they all score goals.”