WASHINGTON — The “Gr8 Chase” is over, as Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is the new goal-scoring king of the NHL.

Ovechkin scored his 895th goal Sunday against the Islanders, to pass Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored by one player in NHL history. Gretzky, “The Great One,” broke Gordie Howe’s record of 801 in 1994 and later added another 93 goals before he retired in 1999. 

“One of the best to ever play the game! Congrats Ovi!” one fan said on X as congratulations began pouring in. “He did it! He did it! The greatest goal scorer in National Hocky League history is Alex Ovechkin!” said another fan.

“This man has been through everything, two lockouts, political criticism, an early injury this season, and relentless doubters saying he had no chance. Despite all that, he persevered and reached the summit, because as his name suggests, he really is the Gr8 one!”

The left wing missed just 51 games due to injury throughout his career, and 16 of those games happened this season after he fractured his leg. Despite the 16 missed games this season, the Capitals superstar still leads the team in goals scored and has surpassed the 40-goal plateau 14 times — an NHL record. 

Ovechkin, a future hall-of-famer, has spent his entire NHL career playing for the Washington Capitals, a rare feat these days. After 14 seasons, in 2018, he finally got to secure a Stanley Cup championship, and was crowned playoff MVP for leading all players with 15 postseason goals.

The Great Eight made his mark in the NHL, scoring twice in his debut with the Caps on Oct. 5, 2005. And the Capitals captain has not stopped scoring since. If it were not for two work stoppages, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Ovechkin could realistically be approaching 1,000 goals. That is how good, consistent and durable he has been.

Now, he owns yet another NHL record, as Ovechkin and his teammates chase the franchise’s second Stanley Cup title.

The NHL wrote: “ALEX OVECHKIN IS NOW THE NHL’S ALL-TIME GOALS LEADER!!! HE PASSES WAYNE GRETZKY WITH CAREER GOAL NO. 895! #Gr8ness”

Here are some highlights from the Great 8’s stellar career:

• 2005: Ovechkin made his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2005. He scored two goals in that game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. 
• 2007-2008: Ovechkin won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, awarded to the league’s top goal-scorer, for the first time. He posted a career-high 65-goal season. He has won the Rocket Richard Trophy an NHL-record nine times in his career. 
• 2010: Ovechkin scored his 600th career point with an assist
• 2017: He became the first player in 100 years to open a season with back-to-back hat tricks 
• 2018: Ovechkin and the Capitals win the Stanley Cup
• 2020: Ovie became the eighth player in NHL history to score 700 goals
• 2021: Ovechkin scored his 275th power play goal, breaking Dave Andreychuk’s all-time record.
• 2022: He scored his 800th goal against the Chicago Blackhawks, becoming just the third player in league history to reach that number.
• 2022: Ovechkin scored his 801st and 802nd career goals, passing Gordie Howe for the second-most goals in NHL history
• 2023: Ovechkin recorded his 1,500th career point on Dec. 7, 2023, becoming the 16th player to reach that mark in NHL history