ELMONT, N.Y. -- In a historic moment for the NHL, Alex Ovechkin scored against Ilya Sorokin, breaking the record for the most goals in NHL history. As the Washington Capitals forward approached the New York Islanders goalie, he had one request in mind. "I told him right away, 'I need that stick,'" Ovechkin said, eager to add to his already impressive collection of memorabilia. Sorokin, showing a spirit of sportsmanship, readily agreed, stating, "No problem." When asked what he hoped to receive in return from Ovechkin, Sorokin simply replied, "respect."
After the game, Ovechkin successfully obtained Sorokin's stick, marking another touching moment on an unforgettable day at UBS Arena. Ovechkin scored his 895th goal at 7:26 of the second period on a power play, surpassing Wayne Gretzky to claim the title of the League's new goal king. Notably, this was the only goal that Sorokin allowed in the Islanders' 4-1 victory.
Following Ovechkin's historic goal, he celebrated with his teammates, while the Islanders players formed a line to congratulate him. Sorokin, who was the last in line, greeted his fellow Russian with a heartfelt hug. "I think it's a big moment for the entire hockey world," said Sorokin, who made 28 saves during the game. "Congrats to him and his family. He's a big player, and it's an unbelievable achievement."
Ovechkin and Sorokin have crossed paths before, most notably at the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in Sunrise, Florida. During this event, they were teammates for the Metropolitan Division, and Sorokin even took on the role of babysitter for Ovechkin's son, Ilya, who participated in the All-Stars Skills competition at Amerant Bank Arena. "He's such a great kid, good family, and this is a really big moment for him," Sorokin remarked.
Interestingly, Sunday marked the first time Ovechkin had scored against Sorokin, having previously been shut out in three games with only four shots on goal. "Before the game, Dylan Strome and I talked about how I never score against him," Ovechkin said. "I think we played only two games, but it's kind of a historical moment—a Russian scoring against a Russian while setting the record, so it's pretty cool. He's a tremendous person, and my kids love him, so this is a tremendous moment for hockey."
The atmosphere at UBS Arena was electric, with many fans donning Capitals gear in hopes of witnessing history. Sorokin admitted feeling the weight of pressure going into the game. "I felt a small part of the pressure that Ovi feels every day," he said. "It was crazy pressure." He even turned off his phone the day before due to an influx of calls and messages wishing him luck. "People I haven't spoken to for 1-2 years were reaching out," Sorokin added.
Regarding the goal itself, Sorokin explained that he was caught off guard. "I didn’t see the shot because three players were in front of me," he said. "Usually he shoots from the left side, but I don't know why today he shot from the short-hand side." Notably, 393 of Ovechkin's 895 goals (43.9 percent) have originated from the left circle or above it, making this moment all the more remarkable.
Patrick Roy, the Hockey Hall of Fame goalie and third in NHL history with 551 wins, offered words of encouragement to Sorokin, stating that he should not feel disheartened about conceding Ovechkin's historic goal. "He should feel good about himself because he played really well today," Roy said. "We’re going to see that goal a lot in the next few days, but he should not feel bad about it at all. I believe he's a strong person, so he'll be just fine."
The victory boosted the Islanders (34-32-10) in their quest for the second wild card spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, leaving them five points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who played later that day. When Sorokin was asked about being linked to Ovechkin and the NHL goals record, he emphasized the importance of the team win. "We won the game, and that's what matters to me today," Sorokin concluded. "So he wins, we win. It’s a win-win for everyone."
