How do you chase a ghost? And how do you catch one? For two decades, Alexander Ovechkin has chased the impossible, Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, a number so sacred it felt untouchable. But on a Sunday afternoon in Elmont, with a flick of his stick and a roar from the UBS Arena, the impossible bent to reality when he scored his 895th goal. Ovechkin passed Gretzky. He dove across the ice, arms stretched, legacy sealed. Yet, just as the NHL world gasped, another sporting legend stirred: Michael Phelps. Yes, that Michael. Because when history is rewritten, the greats take notice. And Phelps? Well, he’s got a few secrets to share!

“What’s up, Ovi? Number one, let’s go!” That’s how Michael Phelps opened his message: raw, real, and straight from the heart. And honestly, who better to weigh in on legendary feats than the greatest Olympian of all time? “Congrats. How sick. Breaking the Great One’s record, a record that stood for 25 years and, you know, the Great One’s a great one,” Phelps said in an Instagram reel shared by the NHL, his voice brimming with respect and awe. That record? Wayne Gretzky’s 894 career goals, set over 1,487 regular-season games with the Oilers, Kings, Blues, and Rangers, capped with a final goal on March 1999, ironically, against the Islanders.

Alex Ovechkin, who is now five shy of 900, finally passed him. Same opponent. It was the same game number, his 1,487th NHL regular-season game. Full circle. All 1,487 of them played in a Washington Capitals Jersey.  But it wasn’t just about the numbers for Phelps. He recalled their first meeting: “I remember meeting you 10-12 years ago, and I knew that just something great was gonna happen. You could just tell based off your energy, your dedication, how you prepare yourself, and the passion that you have for the game.” That moment? It stuck. And it went both ways.

Because back in 2013, Ovechkin gifted Phelps a custom Capitals jersey, signed, no less. On the back? “PHELPS” in bold letters. And the number? 22, a nod to his then-record haul of Olympic medals. That was only the third hockey game Phelps had ever attended. But clearly, it made an impression. As he closed his video, Phelps grinned: “Congrats, bro. Hell of a record. I can’t wait to see what’s next. Is a thousand a possibility? Let’s go. Congrats, man. You deserve it.”

But was this the first time that Michael Phelps showered praise on Alexander Ovechkin?

It isn’t the first time Michael Phelps has praised the Alexander Ovechkin

Back in 2011, Michael Phelps was deep into training mode for the 2012 London Games. He was already a living legend, but even in the thick of prep, the guy made time for sports. Football? Huge Ravens fan. Hockey? Well, he had watched only one game live, despite being just an hour from D.C., Phelps hadn’t made it to a Washington Capitals game. Shocking, right?

So when SovSport’s Pavel Lysenkov caught up with him in Russia, Phelps had this to say about Alex Ovechkin: “The first day we got over here, everybody was like, ‘Why does everybody have Ovechkin on?’ And I said, ‘Guys, we are in Russia, and he is the biggest player in the NHL. Of course, you’re going to see a ton of Ovechkin stuff.’ And when asked why he hadn’t caught a Caps game yet? “I’ve seen just one hockey game in my life, and it was USA vs. Canada, the gold medal game at the Olympics,” he said.

“So, it’s a fun sport that I really want to get into more. And being able to see Ovechkin so close, it would be cool to go down to see him play. The guy is just an animal. He is incredible.” Fast forward to 2013. Phelps finally made it to his third-ever hockey game, and this time, it was a Capitals game. What did he leave with? A custom-made jersey from Ovi himself.

“Twenty-two is a good number,” Phelps said in 2013. Ovechkin, being Ovi, tried to deflect. Handed a Sharpie by a team staffer, he joked, “I don’t think he wants my signature.” But Phelps was quick and clear. “No, I want you to sign it,” he said. “I would love you to sign it.”