“Historic Showdown: Will Ovechkin Claim the Crown and Surpass Gretzky’s Legendary 894 Goals This Sunday?”

In the vibrant heart of Washington D.C., a moment unfolded that hockey fans won’t soon forget. Picture this: Alex Ovechkin, a titan of the game, raising a Bud Light as the euphoric chants of “Ovi! Ovi!” echoed around him. Just then, he was joined by none other than Wayne Gretzky—the iconic figure whose scoring prowess set the standard for generations. This meeting of legends symbolized a turning point in hockey history, as the two athletes now stand shoulder to shoulder with an astonishing 894 goals each.

After a night of celebration where Ovechkin netted two goals to tie Gretzky’s previously unimaginable record, discussions ignited about the possibility of Ovechkin claiming his place as the greatest goal-scorer of all time. With humble resolve, he brushed off the weight of expectation, focusing instead on a game-by-game mentality as the playoffs loom on the horizon. Amidst this backdrop of excitement, camaraderie, and a hint of pressure, the stage is set for Ovechkin to potentially surpass the “Great One” in the coming matches, leaving us all on the edge of our seats. To witness a historic milestone unfold in real time is not just thrilling—it’s a testament to what can be achieved through perseverance and talent.

As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on Ovechkin, but don’t forget the collective spirit of his team, desperate to ensure he holds this record all to himself. It’s a unique moment that could change the narrative of hockey forever. To dive deeper into this remarkable journey, <a href="https://nbcsports.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/533bceb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3476×1955+0+451/resize/1440×810!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-sports-production-nbc-sports.s3.us

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin cracked a Bud Light and casually took a sip as nearby fans chanted, “Ovi! Ovi!” He was soon joined by Wayne Gretzky to put the two greatest goal-scorers in NHL history side by side.

At this moment, they are tied at 894 goals apiece after Ovechkin scored twice Friday night to match Gretzky’s total that many thought no one would ever approach. When Ovechkin was asked his feeling about breaking the record, the “Great One” had a great retort.

“Well hold on a second — he hasn’t done it yet,” Gretzky said. “Can you give me 24 more hours?”

Gretzky gets at least that. Ovechkin’s next chance to pass Gretzky comes Sunday in a matinee at the New York Islanders.

All eyes will be on the 39-year-old Russian superstar, who soaked in the moment of celebrating No. 894 in front of Washington Capitals fans who have cheered him on for his two decades in the league and with Gretzky, his mother, wife and children in attendance. As reflective as Ovechkin was about getting there, he instantly went back to his standard answer when asked about when he might break the record.

“It’s game by game; it’s shift by shift,” Ovechkin said. “You never know what’s gonna happen. We just gonna to continue to enjoy it and continue to do our best because we still have six games left before playoffs and our mind right now is get ready for the playoffs and play the right way in the playoffs.”

The playoffs are six games away, but the Capitals first want to make sure Ovechkin gets the record all to himself.

“There’s a reason we try to get it to him: The guy’s got 41 goals,” said center Dylan Strome, who set up Ovechkin’s 893rd goal four minutes into the game against Chicago. “It’s incredible.”

If Ovechkin is unable to score Sunday at the Islanders, the Capitals next play back at home Thursday night against division-rival Carolina. But everyone around the team would like to get this over with as soon as possible, something Gretzky knows from his own pursuit of Gordie Howe’s then-record of 801 in the spring of 1994.

“People don’t realize this — because I went through what Alex is going through — it’s hard on your teammates, too,” Gretzky said. “It’s joyful and it’s exciting, but they feel the pressure and the stress and they have to answer all the questions, also.”

After Ovechkin tied Gretzky, they were more than happy to answer the questions. They could feel the anticipation building toward Ovechkin — the 2018 playoff MVP in leading the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship — doing something else special.

“I think the last few games you could sense it a little bit, but obviously on home ice within something extremely doable for the guy, it felt different the whole night,” said longtime teammate John Carlson, who passed the puck to Ovechkin for No. 894. “From warmups, from the drop of the puck, some guys are larger than life in that regard and it just seems like only a few people are capable of it. It seemed inevitable.”

Inevitable until he breaks it, as well. As Gretzky got up to leave the postgame festivities, he hugged Ovechkin and waved and said, “See you guys on Sunday.”