AMNA NAWAZ: In an historic moment for hockey yesterday, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky's all-time record for most career goals.

In a game against the New York Islanders, Ovechkin scored his 895th goal, a record once thought unbreakable.

ANNOUNCER: Ovechkin fires!

Scores!

The chasing days are done.

AMNA NAWAZ: With his trademark shot from the spot on the ice known as his office, 39-year-old Alex Ovechkin officially cemented himself as the NHL's all-time leading scorer.

The goal broke one of the sport's legendary records, held by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for 31 years.

Gretzky was in New York to witness it and congratulated Ovechkin on the ice.

WAYNE GRETZKY, Former NHL Player: I can tell you firsthand I know how hard it is to get to 894; 895 is pretty special.

Alex, I said I'd be the first guy to shake your hand when you broke the record.

And I wore this pin.

(CHEERING) AMNA NAWAZ: The Russian-born Ovechkin made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals in 2005 and has been the leader of the team ever since, eventually becoming captain.

He scored 50 or more goals for nine seasons and was named one of the top 100 NHL players of all time in 2017.

He's also been named league MVP three separate times in 2008, 2009 and 2013.

After Sunday's game, Ovechkin said he was still processing the moment.

ALEX OVECHKIN, Washington Capitals: When I was tying the record, I still can't believe it.

And it was so emotional.

It was such a great night, but this is something crazy.

I just said I'm probably going to need a couple more days or maybe a couple weeks to realize what does it mean to be number one, but what I can say?

I'm very proud.

AMNA NAWAZ: For more now on Ovechkin and this record-breaking achievement, I'm joined by Joe Beninati, who's been doing play-by-play announcing for the Capitals on the Monumental Sports Network.

Joe, welcome to the "News Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

JOE BENINATI, Monumental Sports Network: Amna, thank you for the invitation.

What could we be talking about?

JOE BENINATI: I'm not sure exactly what the subject matter is.

Holy smokes, the last three, four days have been phenomenal.

AMNA NAWAZ: Holy smokes indeed.

Joe, this is a record that stood for over 30 years before Ovechkin broke it this weekend.

Just put it into perspective for us.

Where does this put Ovi in the pantheon of greats?

JOE BENINATI: Well, the procession, there's - - since 1917, when the NHL first began, there's only been 10 people all time to have the title of all-time goal scoring leader.

And the procession from Rocket Richard to Gordie Howe to Wayne Gretzky to Alex Ovechkin, I get the shivers just thinking about it because you are speaking of a pantheon of all-time greats.

And most people will tell you that Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player to ever live.

Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr might also suggest that they earned that title.

We're not saying that Alex is the greatest player of all time, but I think genuinely you can call him the greatest goal scorer of all time.

With the achievements yesterday on Long Island, this is a player who has done it for 20 years and done it in such a way that he has endeared himself to hockey fans worldwide.

AMNA NAWAZ: Joe, what about for you to be there in that moment to make that call we all just saw there?

What was that like for you in the moment?

JOE BENINATI: Amna, I'm still shaking.

It's pure adrenaline.

And as a professional, you think about these moments and this is a player and this is a hockey team or an organization that's treated me to these types of moments, Alex for 20 years, the organization going back 30 years.

I'm used to it, but you can't be conditioned for something like the last three, four days.

Friday at Capital One Arena was magnetic.

It was as close to Stanley Cup final level buzz as you can get without the apprehension, without the fear of losing.

It was a party that was there specifically to see a player get his crowning achievement.

And he almost did it in one night.

And then to do what he did on Long Island on Sunday in front of so many Capitals fans who made their way to New York and so many New York hockey fans who recognized the greatness that they were seeing unfold before them, they treated themselves, with the Islanders as hosts, obviously stopping the game for almost 25 minutes to celebrate this man's achievement -- just a tip of the cap to them, a job extremely well done.

But, for me, I don't know that I will be treated to more exhilarating moments than that.

And as a professional, what you're conditioned to try and do is stay in that moment, deliver it with an adrenaline rush, do it succinctly and get out of the way.

And for the most part, I hope we did it well.

AMNA NAWAZ: You have watched Ovechkin over all of those years as well.

This is a man who's 39 years old in a league where the average player is 27.

He missed a lot of games this year because of a broken leg.

And as our resident hockey guru and Caps super fan, our colleague Morgan Till tells me too, he's not built like a classic goal scorer.

He's built more like a linebacker.

How was Ovechkin able to do what so many couldn't for so long?

JOE BENINATI: Amna, this isn't a dainty hockey player by any stretch.

This is a middle linebacker on skates.

I have heard him referred to as a Mack truck on skates.

And for him to do what he's done over the last 20 years, more than anything, and I have said this from time to time, maybe the greatest ability of superstar athletes is availability.

He's been available 95 percent of the time that he could have laced them up for the Capitals.

And this is playing through an assortment of injuries.

In his younger days, he flexed them away without even thinking about it, in his 20s and early 30s.

Now that he's pushing 40 years of age, those injuries linger a little bit longer.

And yet still he fights through them until you get an episode like you did in November, where he breaks his leg in Salt Lake City.

And, Amna, were it not for that injury, at age 39, he could conceivably, with all these young tigers running around on the ice, he could conceivably be leading the league in goals, again, had he not missed those 40 days, had he not missed those 16 games.

He is having a truly remarkable season when it comes to goals per games played.

It's through the roof at 39.

Think of it.

AMNA NAWAZ: He's been a joy to watch.

It's a joy to listen to you as you watch him as well.

That is Joe Beninati, the voice of the Washington Capitals on the Monumental Sports Network.

Joe, thank you so much.

Really a pleasure to talk to you.

JOE BENINATI: Amna, this was great.

Any time.