Ovechkin scored the record-breaking goal in the second period, so during intermission heading into the third, Sorokin meandered to the Capitals' locker room, where he presented Ovechkin the stick and took a photo with Ovi and Gretzky.

Ovechkin whipped a one-timer from the left faceoff circle past goaltender Frederik Andersen during a five-on-three power play in the second period. The 39-year-old has now tallied 39 goals this season in just 59 games played. He's now tied with Gordie Howe for the second-most scored by a player aged 39 or older in NHL history (44).

Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's NHL goals record became the talk of the league a time of the season usually reserved only for playoff races

The Athletic has live coverage of Alex Ovechkin’s journey to break Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record. WASHINGTON — Sometime soon — Sunday maybe, perhaps Thursday — Alex Ovechkin will reach the summit.

Alex Ovechkin is the NHL's new goal-scoring king. The Washington Capitals left wing scored his 895th goal to surpass Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Sunday.

The crowd at UBS Arena was there on Sunday to witness history, and it erupted into raucous cheers for the goal that cut New York's lead over Ovechkin's Washington Capitals to 2-1. THE MOMENT ALEX OVECHKIN PASSED THE GREAT ONE 🐐 (via @NHL) pic.

Alex Ovechkin has become the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history, passing Wayne Gretzky with his 895th career goal for the Washington Capitals.

Alex Ovechkin has joined Wayne Gretzky atop the NHL goals list. Ovechkin scored his 893rd and 894th goals to tie Gretzky for the most in League history in a 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena on Friday.

A little more than three decades before Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record, the “Great One” had his own chase. Gretzky was in hot pursuit of Gordie Howe's record in the spring of 1994.