The event unfolded as Alexander Ovechkin, the Russian forward for the Washington Capitals, climbed past a storied name in hockey history, surpassing Gordie Howe to join Wayne Gretzky at the very top of the NHL’s all-time snipers list. It marked a historic milestone in the annals of the league, with Ovechkin now standing as the sole player to have moved ahead of Howe and alongside Gretzky for two of the most celebrated records in the sport.
The moment came during a regular season clash with the Winnipeg Jets. As the first period drew to a close, a feed from Dylan Strome found its way to Ovechkin, who cleverly outmaneuvered Czech goaltender David Rittich by slipping the puck between the goalie’s pads and legs for a memorable goal.
Caps owner Ted Leonsis publicly congratulated Ovechkin on his 801st NHL tally, noting that the milestone put him in rare company. Leonsis posted that Ovechkin had equaled Gordie Howe for the second most goals in NHL history, calling it a truly significant achievement and extending best wishes for the historic night.
When play resumed after the intermission, Ovechkin quickly had another opportunity to extend the record, yet could not convert a potential zero-to-one moment to push the lead further. The Capitals maintained control for much of the game, keeping Winnipeg on the back foot as fans in the Capital One Arena savored the occasion. In the middle of the second period, Ovechkin assisted Conor Sheary and then set up Sonny Milano for a goal that made it 2–0 in favor of Washington.
The action intensified at the start of the third period when Washington extended its advantage to three goals through a collaborative effort involving Nick Dowd, Garnet Hathaway, and Erik Gustafsson. The Jets answered back through a pair of strikes by Carson Kuhlman and Axel Jonsson-Fjällby, with Kevin Stenlund converting passes from teammates to trim the deficit to two goals.
With time winding down and Winnipeg pressing, Jets coach Rick Bowness opted to pull the goaltender and add a sixth attacker in an attempt to spark a late rally. Ovechkin seized the moment, delivering a historic 802nd NHL regular-season goal after the empty-net gambit. He initially fed Evgeny Kuznetsov in a better scoring position, but the Statesman chose to recycle the puck back to Kuznetsov before quickly reclaiming it and finishing with a backhand shot into the open net. The moment was greeted with a chorus of cheers across the rink and across the league, as teammates and opponents alike came to congratulate the captain at the final whistle.
Postgame, the Jets’ social channels acknowledged Ovechkin’s milestone, wishing him well as the chase for the next significant mark continued. They spoke of the night as a historic one for the Capitals and for the player who has left an indelible mark on the league.
Ovechkin earned first star honors for the evening, while Washington goalie Charlie Lindgren recorded 25 saves from 26 shots to help preserve the lead. Conor Sheary’s two primary assists also stood out as a key contribution in front of the home crowd. Reflecting on the achievement, Ovechkin remarked that reaching second place behind Gretzky would temper the excitement with a sense of perspective rather than pressure. He described the moment as a surge of emotion amplified by the cameras and microphones that followed him throughout the night, admitting that while the feeling was intense, he preferred the ongoing challenge to keep producing at a high level.
Ovechkin later noted that he did not want to simply pad his goal tally by collecting goals in an empty net. Kuznetsov disclosed that he offered the pass to Ovechkin, but Kuznetsov declined to take the shot, preferring to pass the scoring opportunity back to his teammate. The broader sentiment around the club emphasized a sense of pride in the way the milestone was achieved and shared, with Kuznetsov highlighting the importance of preserving the team’s character and competitive spirit. The discussion also touched on the responsibility and legacy that accompanies such a historic run, with commentators and fans weighing in on the implications for Ovechkin’s standing among the league’s greatest scorers.
With this victory, the gap between Ovechkin and Gretzky in the NHL’s all-time sniper list narrowed to 92 goals. Washington’s next challenge would see them travel to face the New York Rangers, a game slated for a late-night start that would test the team’s endurance after such a momentous night.