Alex Ovechkin scores goal # 895 to break the NHL NHL notation record: NPR

For Alex Ovechkin, the goal of Sunday’s match came like so many people before he did it – on the power game, from the top of the left game circle, a powerful blow to the goal.

But this was the story. For Washington Capitals Star, this 895th goal of his regular season career made him the new NHL’s new leader after Wayne Gretzky, the “big”, held the record for more than 30 years.

After marked, Ovechkin slipped with the ice of ice and shouted with pleasure while his teammates ran on the ice in a joyful crowd. And the crowd – even in an outside match against the New York Islanders – Rugi and sang its name.

The game stopped for more than ten minutes for an official celebration as soon as Ovechkin marked. The two benches have emptied the teams, capitals and islanders, aligned themselves to shake the hand of Ovechkin. And Gretzky joined Ovechkin on the ice, with the Ovechkin family and the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, for a mid -game ceremony.

“I could tell you first -hand, I know how difficult it is to go to 894,” said Gretzky. “895 is quite special.”

“They say that records are made to be broken, but I don’t know who will get more goals than that,” joked Gretzky.

The pursuit of Ovechkin for the Gretzky record had become the history of the headliner of the whole NHL season. Last Friday, he scored two goals to match the home record in Washington. Subsequently, ticket prices for Sunday’s match in New York had climbed $ 1,000 or more, while fans ran for the occasion to see the story.

At 39, Ovechkin is the second oldest striker in the NHL this season, his 20th. And he scored goals this season at the same clip as he was recruited by 20 years – almost two goals all three games.

His combination of sustainability and production allowed him to continue to score goals at a much higher pace than almost any other player in their thirties – and more than most players in the league.

With the goal of Sunday, Ovechkin scored 42 goals this season, third on a league level – despite breaking his leg in November, an injury that forced him to miss 16 games, the longest injury of his career. (The other five highest players this season are all in their twenties.)