Alex Ovechkin admits he had doubts about reaching Wayne Gretzky record

Washington Capitals prima Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s grounds for astir goals scored successful an NHL vocation connected Sunday with a powerplay people against the New York Islanders.

However, adjacent the caller record-holder had immoderate doubts.

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Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin, #8, poses with the puck arsenic helium celebrates aft scoring a extremity successful the 2nd play against the New York Islanders astatine UBS Arena successful Elmont, New York, connected April 6, 2025. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Ovechkin was asked successful an quality connected "Fox & Friends" connected Wednesday whether helium thought successful 2020 that breaking Gretzky’s grounds would beryllium possible. Gretzky tapped Ovechkin arsenic the 1 to bash it, if anyone had the chance.

"No. Even earlier this year, astatine 39 years old, I’d person to people 42 goals. In this league, successful this hockey crippled close now, it’s hard to do," helium said. "Like I ever said, without my teammates, without my family, without each the support, we would ne'er person reached that milestone."

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Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin, #8, scores a extremity successful the 2nd play against the New York Islanders astatine UBS Arena. The extremity is the 895th of Ovechkin’s career, breaking the NHL all-time vocation goals grounds antecedently held by Wayne Gretzky, astatine UBS Arena successful Elmont, New York, connected April 6, 2025. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Ovechkin’s 895th vocation extremity was his 42nd of the season. He has played successful 42 games this play and has had six multi-goal games, including chapeau tricks against the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers.

He recalled the history-making infinitesimal helium scored against the Islanders.

"Honestly, I ne'er thought it could happen," helium said. "This is specified a large infinitesimal for myself, for the Capitals organization, for hockey, for my teammates, for my family, friends and fans each implicit the world."

Ovechkin besides teamed up with the V Foundation to assistance combat pediatric cancer. 

Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin, #8, celebrates aft scoring his 895th vocation extremity during the 2nd play of an NHL hockey crippled against the New York Islanders successful Elmont, New York, connected Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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In March, helium vowed to donate a dollar magnitude adjacent to his vocation extremity full each clip helium scores for the remainder of his career.

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