Wayne Gretzky, wife Janet Jones's FIRST reaction to Alex Ovechkin breaking NHL record | Watch

Wayne Gretzky celebrated Alex Ovechkin's NHL record-breaking goal on Sunday

Updated on: Apr 7, 2025, 24:12:11 IST

AP | By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Wayne Gretzky got on his feet and his wife Janet Jones covered her face in awe as 39-year-old Alex Ovechkin became NHL's all-time top goal scorer against the New York Islanders on Sunday. The Washington Capitals captain beat Gretzky's 894-goal record.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, is greeted by Wayne Gretzky (AP)

During the on-ice celebration, Gretzky kept his promise, shaking Overchkin's hand. “I said I’d be the first one to shake your hand when you broke the record," the 64-year-old Hall of Famer said.

“I wish the Islanders and the New York fans all the best, but we’re here today to celebrate this guy here, number 8. I can tell you firsthand I know how hard it is to get to 894, 895 is pretty special. They say records are meant to be broken, but I’m not sure who’s gonna get more goals than that," he added.

Alex Ovechkin's record-breaking goal

Playing the Islanders on Sunday, the Capitals captain beat fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on a power play with 12:34 left in the second period. The 39-year-old took a perfect pass from Tom Wilson and fired a laser past Sorokin. He immediately dived onto the ice to celebrate as his teammates hugged him. Capitals fans chanted ‘Ovi, Ovi’ from the stands.

Gretzky moved into the top spot beating Gordie Howe by putting the puck in the net for the Los Angeles Kings on March 23, 1994.

During the Kings' regional sports network broadcast that day, an announcer breathlessly declared: “A historic moments in sports, compared with Henry Aaron passing Babe Ruth in home runs, with Pete Rose passing Ty Cobb in hits. Great moments when people thought records would never be broken. Mike Powell passing Bob Beamon's long jump record of 29 feet, 2 1/2 inches. And Wayne Gretzky, indeed, has records that may never be broken. Perhaps this one.”

Gretzky got his 802nd in that game and ended up with 894 when he retired in 1999.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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