Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL record for power-play goals by scoring No. 275 for the Washington Capitals against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Friday.
Ovechkin was tied with Dave Andreychuk before scoring with 2:51 left in the third period.
The goal, scored just as a Red Wings penalty was expiring, was originally scored as an even-strength goal but was changed following a postgame timing review requested by the Capitals.
“Yeah, it’s a pretty cool place to be, obviously,” Ovechkin told NBC Sports Washington. “Lots of a great players on that list and it’s nice to be No. 1.”
Ovechkin had not scored a power-play goal since Dec. 15, when he tied Andreychuk with No. 274 in the second period of a 5-4 overtime loss at the Chicago Blackhawks.
“When you’re sitting there on the brink for a long time, you know, one game, two games, three games, I’m sure you’re anxious just to get it done,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s not like it wasn’t going to happen. It was going to happen, but it’s nice just to get it done and then move forward from there. But quite an accomplishment. Dave’s been around a long time with a lot of great players, and to be a part of that history is something special.”
The record-setting goal broke a 1-1 tie and helped Washington to a 3-1 win.
The 36-year-old left wing has played 1,230 NHL games in his 17 seasons. He has scored six power-play goals among his 24 goals this season.
Phil Esposito held the NHL power-play goals record with 246 until Andreychuk passed him playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 23, 2002. Brett Hull tied Andreychuk at 263 power-play goals playing for the Red Wings against the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 18, 2004.
Andreychuk regained the record two days later by scoring two power-play goals against the Buffalo Sabres.
“If he continued to stay healthy, and wanted to play, he was eventually going to go by me,” Andreychuk said of Ovechkin this season. “So when that day comes, I had a good run. Let’s just say that. It’s been a while. It’s been fun. And to be put in that same class, as Phil Esposito, Brett Hull, and now Alex Ovechkin, I’m so very honored.”
Ovechkin, who also scored an empty-net goal Friday, has scored 754 NHL goals, fourth in NHL history behind Jaromir Jagr (766), Gordie Howe (801) and Wayne Gretzky (894). He scored No. 750 on Dec. 4 in a 3-1 win against the Blue Jackets.
Andreychuk scored 640 goals (15th in history) in 1,639 games in 23 NHL seasons with the Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Lightning.
Ovechkin has scored 112 power-play goals on a one-timer from inside or above the left face-off circle.
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom each had an assist on the record-setting goal. Backstrom has an assist on 116 of Ovechkin’s power-play goals.
The goal was also Ovechkin’s 119th game-winning goal in the NHL, passing Esposito for third behind Jagr (135) and Howe (121).
The empty-net goal with 41 seconds remaining gave Ovechkin 1,370 NHL points, passing Johnny Bucyk for 25th in history. Ovechkin has scored 50 points this season.
“It’s a great moment for me, for the team, for the fans, for the game as well,” he said of the record. “Now it’s over and we’ll move on.”