With power and a prodigious shot, Alex Ovechkin now stands where few in hockey have been as he became just the eighth NHL player to score 700 career goals.
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He reached the milestone in the third period of the Washington Capitals' 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
"It's a special moment," Ovechkin said.
"When you get closer you start thinking when it's going to happen.
"Finally, it's over so we don't have to talk about it anymore. We're going to move on."
The 34-year-old Russian forward one-timed a slap shot from the right circle that went in off the left post 4 minutes 50 seconds into the third period.
It was his 42nd goal of the season, one off the league lead.
Capitals players rushed onto the ice to congratulate their teammate, and Devils fans gave him a strong ovation.
"Amazing to be able to watch it live and in person... Certainly a superstar in my time, the best goal-scorer that I've ever seen," Capitals coach Todd Rierden said.
Wayne Gretzky leads the career list with 894 goals.
He is followed by Gordie Howe (801), Jaromir Jagr (766), Brett Hull (741), Marcel Dionne (731), Phil Esposito (717) and Mike Gartner (708).
"It's always special to be in that category," Ovechkin said.
"But I would say without my team, without my family, without the fans, the support that I have I would never reach that milestone.
"We have to continue to create history."
Ovechkin had not scored in five straight games before getting No.699 against Montreal on Thursday night.
He had 14 goals, including three hat tricks, in his previous seven games before the drought.
He needed 1,144 games to reach the landmark, second fastest behind Gretzky at 886 games.
And the player who has been tormenting goalies since joining the league in 2005 moved from 600 goals to 700 in 154 games, the fewest among the eight players to reach the mark.
Australian Associated Press
