NEW YORK (AP) — Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin had not given up a goal to Alex Ovechkin in the first three games he played against the Washington Capitals superstar.
Ovechkin changed that Sunday when he scored his record-breaking 895th career goal — breaking a tie with Wayne Gretzky — in the second period of the Washington Capitals' 4-1 loss on Sunday.
Sorokin became the 183rd goalie Ovechkin has beaten.
“I feel a little bit pressure,” Sorokin acknowledged about feeling coming into the game. “I just feel more part what Ovi feel most of his life, and much, much more. It's a good experience for me.”
Sorokin said he never saw Ovechkin’s laser shot through traffic from above the top of the left faceoff circle at 7:26 of the middle period.
Ovechkin addressed his fellow Russian during his on-ice celebration speech, saying, “Ilya Sorokin, thank you for letting me score 895. I love you, brother.” He also asked Sorokin for his goalie stick and Sorokin brought it to him in the Capitals’ dressing room after the game.
Ovechkin said he felt pride in sharing the moment with a fellow Russian star.
“It’s kind of an historical moment, Russian score against Russian and setting the record, so it’s pretty cool," Ovechkin said. “He's such a great kid and my kids love him. So, it’s a tremendous moment, it’s a tremendous day for hockey and that’s cool.”
Asked what he’ll get in return, Sorokin said, “Respect.”
Ovechkin had not scored against Sorokin on four shots coming into the game. He also failed in his first three shots on Sunday, but finally broke through on No. 4 — third in the second period — during the Capitals' first power play.
“We did our best to limit what we knew was coming,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “We knew what was at stake, and it was going to be an exciting game. .... Got to witness some pretty cool history.”
Ovechkin has 45 goals in 72 games against the Islanders, including four in six games at UBS Arena, which opened in 2021. His 895th goal came in his 1,487th game. Coincidentally, Gretzky's 894th had come in his 1,487th and also against the Islanders — on March 29, 1999, against Wade Flaherty.
“You have to take in the moment. It’s great for our game,’’ said Islanders coach Patrick Roy, whose 551 career wins as a goalie with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche ranks third all-time in the NHL. “You have to acknowledge what Ovi has done for hockey. When Wayne retired (in 1999) no one thought any of his records would fall. Ovi deserves a lot of credit.”
Gretzky said he was glad the momentous goal wasn’t scored at the Islanders original home — where his Oilers lost the 1983 Cup Final as the Islanders completed a four-game sweep of Edmonton to win a fourth-straight Stanley Cup.
“It’s nice to not be a Nassau Coliseum because I lost a lot of games there,’’ Gretzky quipped.
Freelance writer Allan Kreda contributed to this report.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), lower center, is celebrates with is teammates after scoring against New York Islanders during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) and New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (4) bump fists after an NHL hockey game against Washington Capitals in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Rescue crews in the Dominican Republic on Thursday dug through the remains of a legendary nightclub whose roof collapsed earlier this week, killing at least 184 people, but hope of finding survivors was slim.
Meanwhile, dozens of people in the capital of Santo Domingo still searched for their loved ones, growing frustrated upon getting no answers after visiting hospitals and the country's forensic institute.
Doctors warned that some of the two dozen patients who remained hospitalized were still not in the clear, especially the eight who were in critical condition.
“If the trauma is too great, there's not a lot of time” left to save patients in that condition, said Health Minister Dr. Víctor Atallah.
He and other doctors said that injuries include fractures in the skull, femur and pelvis caused by slabs of cement falling on those attending a merengue concert at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where more than 200 were injured.
The government said Wednesday night that it was moving to a recovery phase focused on finding bodies, but Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, said crews at the scene were still looking for victims and potential survivors although no one has been found alive since Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re not going to abandon anyone. Our work will continue,” he said.
The legendary club was packed with musicians, professional athletes and government officials when dust began falling from the ceiling and into people’s drinks early Tuesday. Minutes later, the roof collapsed.
Victims include merengue icon Rubby Pérez, who had been singing to the crowd before the roof fell; former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera; and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi whose brother is seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz.
Also killed was a retired United Nations official; saxophonist Luis Solís, who was playing onstage when the roof fell; New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco; the son and daughter-in-law of the minister of public works; the brother of the vice minister of the Ministry of Youth; and three employees of Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife.
Randolfo Rijo Gómez, director of the country's 911 system, said it received more than 100 calls, with several of those made by people buried under the rubble. He noted that police arrived at the scene in 90 seconds, followed minutes later by first response units. In less than half an hour, 25 soldiers, seven fire brigades and 77 ambulances were activated, he said.
Crews used dogs and thermal cameras to search for victims, rescuing 145 survivors from the rubble, authorities said.
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the roof to collapse, or when the Jet Set building was last inspected.
The government said late Wednesday that once the recovery phase ends, it will launch a thorough investigation.
The club issued a statement saying it was cooperating with authorities. A spokesperson for the family that owns the club told The Associated Press that she passed along questions about potential inspections.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works referred questions to the mayor’s office. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Women cry during the search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed two nights prior during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
Family members wait to identify the remains of their loved who died when the roof collapsed at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert, in a parking lot of the National Institute of Forensic Pathology in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, (AP Photo/Marvin Del Cid)
Rescue workers stand next to a recovered body of a victim who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
