Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky for No. 1 on NHL goal-scoring list

Alex Ovechkin skated over to Ilya Sorokin after the 24-minute on-ice celebration of his NHL record-setting 895th goal and leaned in to ask something of the goalie he had whipped a power-play shot past.

“He asked about my stick,” Sorokin said. “I said, ‘No problem.’  ”

And what did the Washington Capitals superstar and fellow Russian offer in return?

“I don’t know,” said Sorokin, who hand-delivered his stick to Ovechkin after the Islanders’ 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon at UBS Arena as the two of them were photographed alongside Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s former all-time leading goal-scorer. “Respect?”

Gretzky, who sat with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, went to the Islanders’ postgame dressing room first after congratulating Ovechkin during the in-game ceremony.

“Just kind of acknowledging our sportsmanship throughout the game,” said fourth-liner Marc Gatcomb, who doubled Ovechkin’s output with his first career two-goal game. “Just a class-act guy. Just saying how we handled it and stuff like that.”

“It’s very classy for them to come over,” coach Patrick Roy said after the Islanders stood on the ice during Ovechkin’s lengthy ceremony to acknowledge their respect for his achievement. “Mr. Bettman and him and acknowledge how classy our players were.”

Sorokin, who made 28 saves as the Islanders won their second straight to end a three-game homestand, did walk away from his postgame meeting with Ovechkin with an autographed puck.

Ovechkin said of Sorokin: “Before the game, me and [Dylan] Strome talked about how I had never scored against him. I think we only played like two games [actually three], but it’s kind of a historic moment, a Russian scoring against a Russian to set up the record. It’s pretty cool. He is such a great kid. My kids love him. It’s a tremendous moment, a tremendous day for hockey.”

It was that kind of day at an electric UBS Arena, with at least 50% of the sellout crowd of 17,255 in Capitals’ gear. Everyone who came to witness history was satisfied, and the Islanders got a much-needed two points to keep their fringe playoff hopes mathematically alive.

The Islanders (34-32-10) are seven points behind the Canadiens — who beat the Predators, 2-1, on Sunday night — for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. Even if the Islanders win each of their last six games and finish with 90 points, the Canadiens (38-30-9) can eliminate them by picking up six points in their final five games.

Charlie Lindgren stopped 18 shots for the conference-leading Capitals (49-19-9).

“We win the game, for me that’s the most important today,” Sorokin said when asked about being forever linked with Ovechkin. “He win. We win. Everybody win-win.”

“I think we just played a solid game,” Anders Lee said. “Ilya was strong. I think it was a big response after Ovi put that in to get that two-goal lead back. We knew what was at stake and it was going to be exciting and a bunch of Caps fans coming in and just a great environment for the league and their team. It ended up being a perfect scenario. Got to witness some pretty cool history while getting the two points. Makes it a memorable day for everyone involved.”

“The Great 8” scored his milestone goal on the Capitals’ first power play at 7:26 of the second period. It was his sixth goal in a five-game goal streak.

The game was halted with the Islanders leading 2-1 for an on-ice ceremony that included Ovechkin’s family and a video tribute to his career.

“Our guys kept the focus and, as soon as the puck dropped, we were back,” Roy said. “It was about an hour, really. But you had to take the moment. I know it’s an hour, but it’s a great moment and it’s great for our game and I think you need to acknowledge what he’s done for hockey.”

Casey Cizikas was called for tripping in the offensive zone at 7:00 to set the stage for Ovechkin’s goal.

“One, I wasn’t happy with the call, that’s what I was thinking,” Cizikas said. “Our [penalty] kill has been doing one heck of a job lately and I was just hoping our guys would get the job done. But he’s scored from that spot a lot, and when he gets the opportunity, he doesn’t miss very often.”

Ovechkin waited in the neutral zone for the puck to cross into the Islanders’ zone, then skated with speed toward his familiar spot high in the left circle. He took a feed from longtime linemate Tom Wilson before whipping a shot past Sorokin’s blocker.

Sorokin said he never saw the shot through traffic but was surprised that Ovechkin shot to the short side because he usually aims for the glove side.

Ovechkin then sprawled to the ice in celebration as his teammates encircled him in a team hug. His family was brought onto the ice and the Islanders also lined up to congratulate the NHL’s new standard-bearer for goals.

The Islanders opened a two-goal lead in the first period as Bo Horvat, taking Simon Holmstrom’s feed, connected from the low slot at 7:06 and Gatcomb got to the crease for Kyle MacLean’s feed off the rush at 9:00.

Gatcomb notched his second, going to the crease for Matt Martin’s feed, to regain a two-goal edge for the Islanders at 10:26 of the second period. Jean-Gabriel Pageau stripped the puck from defenseman Matt Roy and pushed it past Lindgren at the right post to make it 4-1 at 4:20 of the third period, the goal standing upon video review.

Notes & quotes: Defenseman Tony DeAngelo logged a game-high 24:06 with two blocked shots in his 400th NHL game . . . Kyle MacLean assisted on both of Gatcomb’s goals for his first career multipoint game . . . Martin’s assist was his first point since Nov. 7 . . . Defensemen Adam Boqvist, Mike Reilly and Scott Perunovich remained healthy scratches.Anthony Duclair missed his second game after requesting a leave of absence.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.