[Emily Kaplan] What makes Ovechkin prolific?

He's electrifying.

Authentic.

An absolute rockstar.

From year one, The Great Eight has been a force in this league.

Breaking records and winning awards.

[Announcer] ...the words the DC fans have been waiting to hear.

We're Stanley Cup champions!

But now, The Great Eight chases a different legacy.

[Announcer] Alex Ovechkin, fourth all-time!

That's my job. I love to score goals.

[Announcer] The watch for history is truly on!

[Kaplan] Ovechkin's journey to 800 goals is historic.

Not only because who he's passed to get here,

but how iconic his goals are.

[Announcer] Wanna see power, skating,

determination and the finish?

Here it is.

Without goals you can't win the games.

[Announcer] What a play.

Someone has to do it.

I mean, he's got that hunger for scoring.

You know how great of a goalscorer he is.

[Announcer] Watch him put it on top of his stick.

Once. Twice. Three. Then he banks it in.

It's almost like you take it for granted

because he's done it year after year.

[Announcer] ... He scores!

This may be his prettiest goal.

Falling down and scoring from...

[Announcer] Simply sensational!

And even Wayne Gretzky's looking up on the

overhead scoreboard to just take a second look.

Pretty sick, yeah.

[Kaplan] Beyond the highlight goals, Ovechkin has

always had a dedication to the craft of goal scoring.

He's got such a...

accuracy with his slap shot and wrist shot.

[Announcer] Ovechkin Scores!

It makes it hard for the goalies, I think.

He shoots hard.

Sometimes they squeak through your arm, you know.

In between your arms and body. Or hits it up high.

You try to cover as much net as you can, you know.

But he's still able to hit those posts and corners.

[Announcer] Ovechkin, creeping back towards the office.

[Kaplan] What is The Ovi Office?

[Ovechkin] I don't know, it's a...

you gave it that name, so...

I'll take it, why not.

The Ovi Office...it's gotta be...

top of the circle, on the left side.

Obviously, one of the toughest guys to stop.

He's got such a good release.

His wrist or his one-timer, obviously,

from his powerplay spot there on the dot.

They come in high, hard, heavy, you know.

[Kaplan] Ovechkin transformed hockey in DC.

In 17 years, playing in the capital,

over 100 teammates assisted him,

on the road to 800.

No teammate played a larger role in

the path to 800 than Niklas Backstrom.

Assisting in 278 of Ovi's goals.

[Kaplan] What are the keys to delivering

a perfect pass to Ovi?

It's gotta be flat. That's number 1.

[Announcer] Look at that pass.

Right on the tape and right in the wheelhouse.

[Ovechkin] When he came to the league,

I think we connected to each other.

[Announcer] Here's this from Backstrom.

The dish for Ovechkin. Shoots and he scores!

Obviously with his skill and vision,

it's pretty cool to watch.

[Kaplan] Ovechkin has had a long career.

Collecting goals, trophies and rivals.

He has scored on plenty of legendary goalies,

but Devils star Martin Brodeur stands out in his memory.

It's always a challenge when you play against great goalies,

but I like to play against Martin Brodeur, obviously.

[Announcer] Ovechkin goes way wide, forehand, score!

He was one of the best.

[Announcer] Here is The Great Eight, fires! Save by Brodeur.

When I faced him, it was a challenge.

[Kaplan] Ovi's list of victims is long,

but no one has allowed more Ovechkin goals

than goalie Marc Andre-Fleury.

Obviously we have fun playing against each other.

They have a solid group of guys who've won the cup

and there was always a challenge.

He was a top goalie back then, obviously,

right now he is a top goalie.

[Kaplan] But Ovechkin's rivalries extend

beyond the crease, as well.

There was lots of rivalry of Washington and Pittsburgh.

Me and Sid.

[Announcer] Ovechkin with a little bit of a rough

and then Crosby gave him a shove.

It's a storyline that doesn't go away.

It's been going on for a long time.

Captain against captain, just a little mug shot.

Then the elbow to the head.

Score! Ovechkin!

Crosby scores!

A hat trick.

[Kaplan] These rivalries have only help fuel Ovechkin.

The Great 800.

When you say that number, it's just. It's crazy.

It's a crazy number and the consistency and the ability

just to evolve. I mean, he's got a big shot,

but a big shot can only get you so far.

First of all, 800 goals is a great milestone, I think.

It's just incredible.

[Ovechkin] Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's a pretty cool moment,

obvious to me, for the organization, for my family.

But we still have a long way to go and

we'll see what's going to happen.

[Kaplan] Even if he doesn't catch Gretzky,

Ovechkin's entry into the exclusive 800 goals club

guarantees him hockey immortality.

Ovi is a lock as a hockey Hall of Famer...

whenever he decides to retire.