When Alex Ovechkin finally scored his 895th goal — breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record — the crowd at UBS Arena erupted. It was a historic moment for hockey. But for Ovechkin’s wife, Anastasia Shubskaya, it was something else entirely: a wave of emotion and quiet relief.
“I wanted him to score that goal sooner,” she admitted in a recent interview. “Because I understood the pressure that was on [Ovechkin]. I wanted this weight to be lifted from his soul.”
Anastasia Shubskaya Talks on the Pressure Behind the Calm
To the outside world, Ovechkin looked calm during his chase for history. But at home, the emotional toll was clear. “The pressure was very serious, and from everywhere,” Shubskaya said. “And every day these questions: ‘When, when, when will you break the record?’”
When the goal finally came — against the Islanders in the second period — it felt like a movie ending. The puck hit the net, the crowd exploded, and Gretzky himself was there to shake Ovechkin’s hand. Even NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman called it one of the sport’s most unforgettable nights.
What most people didn’t know? Ovechkin had already passed on a chance to score on an empty net in an earlier game. He told his coach he didn’t want to break the record that way. He wanted it to feel right.
Alex Ovechkin told Spencer Carberry he didn’t want to score on an empty net for 895. A true legend 👏 pic.twitter.com/64LiP1XfNk
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 5, 2025
Off the Ice, Life Goes On for Alex Ovechkin
Not long after the record, the Ovechkin family turned their focus to something more personal: their son Ilya’s fifth birthday. Friends and family gathered, including longtime friend and pop singer Jasmine, who’s been close with the couple for years.
A few weeks later, social media lit up with photos of the family boarding a plane to Moscow, with what looked like enough luggage to move a small apartment. Shubskaya laughed it off, saying most of it belonged to their two sons, plus gifts for relatives and friends.
With one year left on his Capitals contract, speculation about Ovechkin’s future is getting louder. Shubskaya confirmed the plan: “Yes, we’ll be staying in Moscow,” she said. While there’s been no formal retirement announcement, many close to the family think this coming season could be his last.
As Alex Ovechkin laces up for what might be his final NHL campaign, the talk isn’t just about goals. It’s about what he’s built off the ice — his family, his roots, and the life waiting for him beyond the record books.
