Alex Ovechkin's journey to breaking NHL goal-scoring record - ESPN

NEW YORK — After Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL record-breaking 895th goal — in vintage Ovechkin fashion, from his «office,» on an old-school wrist shot — he skated to center ice and belly flopped.

The celebration, the Washington Capitals captain said, was unplanned.

«Ice was bad today,» he explained. «I fell.»

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After the iconic moment, Ovechkin's teammates swarmed him. The late-season game between the Capitals and New York Islanders paused for 25 minutes for an on-ice ceremony. Wayne Gretzky, the legend whom Ovechkin passed, made his way down; the Hall of Famer graciously followed the 39-year-old from one arena to the next as he closed in on his record, fulfilling a promise to be the first person to shake Ovechkin's hand afterward — just as Gordie Howe, the previous record holder, had done for Gretzky in 1994.

As the league set up carpet on the ice, Ovechkin was focused on hugging each of his teammates. Ovechkin then fixated on finding his family, including his mother, wife and their two young sons. «Without them, it's basically, I don't know if I can reach this milestone,» he said.

All the while, a video tribute played on the videoboard at UBS Arena on Long Island.

Those congratulating Ovechkin included a who's who of sports GOATs: Roger Federer, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Sidney Crosby, Derek Jeter, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

«To be honest with you, I didn't see it,» Ovechkin said. «But the boys told me that lots of great people, great athletes support me and congratulate me. It's huge.»

As teammate Tom Wilson said earlier in the week, the attention on Ovechkin was unparalleled for their sport. «To try to think about what he's