President Vladimir Putin on Monday lauded Russian ice hockey star Alexander Ovechkin for surpassing all the sport's other legends in a dazzling career that the Kremlin chief said was a cause for celebration for fans across Russia and the world.

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals scored his 895th career goal this weekend. That put the 39-year-old superstar captain ahead of the former record holder, Wayne Gretzky, who congratulated him in a ceremony on the ice,

Alexander Ovechkin scored his 895th career NHL goal during the second period of the Washington Capitals’ game against the New York Islanders on Sunday to surpass Wayne Gretzky as the league’s all-time leading goal scorer.