In signature dramatic fashion, Ovechkin scored the 894th goal of his career — and second of the game — to tie Gretzky’s NHL record and set off a wild celebration among his Washington Capitals teammates on the ice and in the stands.

The lowly Chicago Blackhawks were in town — along with Wayne Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman — and the goals were flying fast and early at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin took the ice in the eventual 5-3 Capitals ' win needing two goals to tie Gretzky's record of 894 goals and a three to break it.

Chicago put goalie Spencer Knight back in the game after that, so Ovechkin came back in and nearly got the hat trick anyway. He got four shot attempts off in the final two minutes and was agonizingly close to the record-breaking goal, but Knight had other plans.