Hockey player Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal record

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - History was made Sunday afternoon in Long Island, as Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin officially passed Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in National Hockey League history.

The 39-year-old superstar scored career goal No. 895 on a second-period power play, cutting into the Capitals' deficit against the New York Islanders. The goal came 7:26 into the frame and sent the arena into a frenzy, not with boos or cheers, but with awe for one of the greatest players ever to lace up skates.

Ovechkin, long considered the best goal-scorer of his generation, has spent nearly two decades chasing down the seemingly untouchable mark of 894 goals, set by "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky.

With a blistering shot and an uncanny ability to find open ice, Ovechkin finally etched his name at the top of the record books on Sunday.

"I still can't believe it," Ovechkin told reporters after the game. "It's huge. It's unbelievable. I'll need some time to process it."

Ovechkin was greeted on the ice by his wife and children moments after the puck hit the back of the net. Inside the Capitals' dressing room, he shared an emotional embrace with longtime teammates

Drafted first overall in 2004, Ovechkin burst onto the scene in 2005 after the NHL lockout. His relentless drive, physical play, and goal-scoring prowess quickly made him one of the faces of the league and a fan favorite in Washington.