Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky for No. 1 on NHL goal-scoring list

Alex Ovechkin is the NHL’s new all-time goal leader.

The “Great 8” scored his 895th goal to break a tie with Wayne Gretzky with a power-play tally at 7:26 of the second period against the Islanders on Sunday afternoon at UBS Arena. Gretzky, along with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, were among those in attendance at the sold-out game.

The game was halted with the Islanders leading 2-1 for an on-ice ceremony, including a video tribute to Ovechkin’s career.

Casey Cizikas was called for tripping in the offensive zone at 7:00 to give the Capitals their first man advantage of the game.

Ovechkin waited in the neutral zone for the puck to cross into the Isles’ zone, then skated with speed toward his familiar spot in the left circle and took a feed from longtime linemate Tom Wilson before whipping a shot past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.

Ovechkin then sprawled to the ice in celebration as his teammates encircled him in a team hug. His family was brought onto the ice and the Islanders also lined up to congratulate the NHL’s new standard bearer for goals.

Ovechkin scored twice in the Capitals’ 5-3 win over visiting Chicago on Friday night to pull into a tie with Gretzky, who finished his career with 894 goals and 1,963 assists in 1,487 NHL games. He had held the record since scoring his 802nd goal and surpassing Gordie Howe on March 23, 1994.

Ovechkin, 39, selected first overall by the Capitals in 2004, now has 895 goals and 724 assists in 1,487 NHL games. That includes 45 goals and 24 assists in 72 career games against the Islanders.