Nats celebrate Ovechkin's record-breaking 895th goal

The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks 5-4 on Sunday to win their first series of the season. But 245 miles away on Long Island, another milestone was being reached. One that has slightly more historical significance in the sporting world.

Alex Ovechkin, the iconic captain of the Washington Capitals, scored his 895th career goal yesterday, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s 31-year-old record to become the National Hockey League’s all-time leading goal scorer.

Fittingly, Ovechkin’s historic goal against the New York Islanders came on a power play from the left circle. Right from his office. As it should have been.

It was the shot heard around the world, with fans, athletes and celebrities from all walks of life congratulating the greatest goal scorer to ever live. And that rang true on South Capitol Street back home in Washington, D.C., where the Nats were playing.

The Nationals showed the goal highlight on the big screen at Nats Park and congratulated Ovechkin in between the first and second innings, while the crowd of 14,528 gave The Great 8 a standing ovation with an “OVI” chant.

“One, I wish I was there. Unfortunately, we gotta play,” manager Davey Martinez said with a laugh after the Nats’ game. “But man, congratulations to O and the Caps. What a feat, right? You can hang the GOAT on him right now, right? That's what it is. And what he means to the city of D.C. and the area around here, it's incredible. I know he's coming in here. I think he's gonna come visit us here soon. I can't wait to see him and congratulate him in person. But congratulations, O, that was tremendous.”

The Capitals and Nationals are well known to have a strong relationship off the ice and diamond. The two teams famously celebrated their championships by attending the other’s home games in 2018 and 2019. Ovechkin was front and center in both of those parties.

Someone who wasn’t was Dylan Crews. But the rookie outfielder already appreciates what Ovechkin means to the sport of hockey and the city of D.C. during his short time in our nation’s capital.

“This is my rookie year, I haven't been here that long. But everybody here knows who he is,” Crews said of Ovechkin. “It's been awesome to watch so far. Me, myself being here for a short period of time, but the whole city, the whole District of Columbia, D.C., we're all happy for him. It's been awesome to watch. Just to be able to say that you reached that milestone, and not only reach it, but break it, is awesome. So hats off to him. And like I said, D.C. is proud of him, for sure.”

The Nationals’ social media team was even able to put Crews side-by-side with the local legend. After Ovechkin scored goal No. 895, he did his iconic fist pump and dove head first onto the ice at UBS Arena while being mobbed by his teammates. In the sixth inning at Nats Park, Crews stole second base by sliding in head first and evading the tag with a nifty swim move, unfortunately without a mob.

I guess you could say they were put slide-by-slide.

“I think his looked probably a little bit better,” Crews said with a laugh.

Perhaps no one appreciated the record-breaking goal (and was upset they missed watching it live) more than the Nats’ resident hockey fan Jake Irvin. The Minnesota native had a pretty straightforward comment about it: “It’s (expletive) electric! I’m pumped for the guy.”

That’s an easy way to describe the moment for Ovechkin, who has spent his entire 20-year NHL career with the Capitals while breaking a record previously thought to be unbreakable.

How do you put 895 hockey goals into a baseball perspective? Is it Barry Bonds’ record of 762 home runs? Pete Rose’s record of 4,256 hits? Cal Ripken Jr.’s record of 2,632 consecutive games played?

It was a question the Nats were asking, too.

“It's incredible,” Trevor Williams said. “We were trying to put it into baseball terms. Is that homers? Is that someone breaking the Barry Bonds (home run record)? Is it someone breaking the Pete Rose hit record? Either, it's an impressive feat.”

An impressive feat indeed for hockey and the sporting world. But also, an impressive feat D.C. can call all their own.

“For him to do it with one organization his entire career, he means a lot to the city,” Williams said. “And, as a D.C. athlete as well, I'm proud of what he's done and what he's done for this city. It's an impressive feat that I hope never gets taken from him.”