WATCH: Ovechkin Passes Jagr For Third On NHL’s All-Time Goals List, Bench Empties For Group Hug

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It took quite a few chances, but Alex Ovechkin has finally done it. The Washington Capitals captain made history once again on home ice and has taken sole possession of third on the NHL’s all-time goals list.

Ovechkin scored his 767th goal against the New York Islanders, striking right off the face-off late in the third to make it 3-2. It moved him past Jaromir Jagr for third in all-time goals. H is now the highest-scoring European player of all time and sits 34 goals behind Gordie Howe (801). He needs 128 more red lights to break the all-time goals record set by Wayne Gretzky.

The goal that made history:
ALEX OVECHKIN: THIRD-HIGHEST GOAL SCORER IN @NHL HISTORY‼️ #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/4FhO2SylQ0

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) March 16, 2022

After the goal, the bench came out to congratulate No. 8 on the milestone.

The 36-year-old tied Jagr just three nights prior with two goals in a 5-4 victory against the Calgary Flames. However, when it came to getting the milestone marker, he got robbed on quite a few occasions.

First, he had the opportunity for a hat trick and the milestone tally on an empty-netter in Calgary, but his shot was blocked. Then, in Edmonton, Mikko Koskinen held Ovechkin, who had eight shots, at bay. And even in Vancouver, Ovechkin thought he had broken the record earlier in the frame, as a shot from the office on a first-period power-play was trickling over the goal line. However, before it could completely cross, Evgeny Kuznetsov made a diving play to guarantee the PPG for the Capitals.

READ MORE ON WHN: Ovechkin Reacts To Tying Jagr’s Record

Jagr had teased Ovechkin on social media about the missed chances, asking him to break the record.

“Come on Ovi, I already send a video to congratulate you. I need a motivation to come back,” Jagr wrote on Twitter.

The Great 8 is now up to 37 goals and 72 points on the season, which rank fourth and eighth respectively in the league. He has goals in three of his last four outings. Meanwhile, the Capitals have also recently gotten back on the right track with a 3-0-1 record in their last four games. Washington had been trading wins and losses.

“It’s always nice to hit those kind of milestones, numbers,” Ovechkin said of tying Jagr on Tuesday. “You know, it’s pretty big, obviously. And how I always said, being [with] those names and those company, it’s a pretty cool moment.

“It’s kind of fun, the guys happy, I think the organization pretty happy, fans, my family. It’s big moment,” Ovechkin added.