With his two goals in the night's 4-1 victory at home against the Winnipeg Jets, the 37-year-old Ovetchkin passed the second on the list, "Mr Hockey" himself, Detroit icon Gordie Howe who scored 801 goals during his NHL career.

Now there is only one mountain left to climb.

The greatest hockey player of all time Wayne Gretzky's "impossible" record of 894 complete hits.

- It feels good to be mentioned in the same context as those names.

It's pretty cool, says Ovetchkin afterwards, surrounded in the dressing room by pretty much all the media in place.

- It is emotional.

My parents watched from home, but my wife as well as my children and friends were here on site.

To do it in front of the home crowd is special.

They always give me full support and this feels great, he continues.

Kuznetsov did not want to shoot

The tie for the record came early, just 1.38 into the game when Ovetchkin made it 1-0 with a slick wrist shot.

The atmosphere in the Capital One Arena was already electric and the feeling was that it would be a memorable night for the crowd.

The team captain then passed until 2-0 and at the score 3-1 to the Capitals, Winnipeg picked the opposing goalkeeper in a last effort.

Ovetchkin was on the ice and gave Yevgeny Kuznetsov the chance to put the puck into an empty cage.

However, an unselfish Kuznetsov did not want to shoot, but gave the puck back to "Ovie", who made it 4-1 from an awkward angle with exactly one minute left in the game.

The arena was boiling and a video greeting from Gordie Howe's son Mark Howe was then shown on the jumbotron.

- Moments like this rarely appear, so then you have to pause the match to pay tribute to such a special achievement.

What he has managed to achieve here in Washington is absolutely incredible, says coach Peter Laviolette.

Stayed on the ice afterwards

After the final whistle, both teams remained on the ice and paid tribute to the star.

- It's a way to show respect and gratitude for everything he's done for this league, says Winnipeg's Adam Lowry.

It took Ovetchkin 1,310 games to reach 802 goals and he is now in his 18th NHL season.

By comparison, it took Gordie Howe 26 seasons and 1,767 games.

Howe was 52 years old when he scored the 801st and final goal of his career.

Record holder Wayne Gretzky finished his career with 894 goals and a total of 2,857 points – numbers that no one else has come close to.

Perhaps goal-scoring Ovetchkin can stay healthy for a few more seasons and change that.

Winnipeg's only goal in the match, the reduction to 1-3, was scored by Swedish Kevin Stenlund with an assist from Axel Jonsson-Fjällby.

Washington's Marcus Johansson left the game in the third period after crashing into the rim.