Ovechkin has no one left to chase after passing Gretzky, but he’s always been driven to score, so he could possibly add another 40-goal season -- he already has 14 -- if he stays healthy. Although he missed 16 games this season with a fractured left fibula, he missed only 35 games because of injury prior to that in his career.

Even after Ovechkin broke Gretzky's all-time goals record, some of "The Great Ones" records will never be topped

It’s the hockey equivalent of Barry Bonds passing Hank Aaron with his 756th home run, or LeBron James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with his 38,388th point — a modern legend chasing down one of the most revered records in sports, held by one of the most revered athletes of all time. Here’s a little historical perspective on Ovechkin’s feat: