Alex Ovechkin tying Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record was a great moment for hockey. The game he breaks the record will be even better, and tickets are being priced accordingly.

The Washington Capitals star is on the verge of breaking a record that has stood for 2 1/2 decades after scoring two goals Friday, pushing his career total even with Gretzky's mark of 894. With six games remaining on the regular-season schedule, he is widely expected to reach 895 in the next two weeks.

Ovechkin's first opportunity will be on the road Sunday against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena.

Despite that game being a few hours north of D.C., hockey fans are already spending big to be in the building in case Ovechkin breaks the record. As of Saturday afternoon, the cheapest tickets just to enter the arena are $274 on SeatGeek, $287 on StubHub and $350 on TickPick.

Lower-bowl prices are even more eye-watering, with the latter service's cheapest tickets coming at $626.

The get-in price for the Islanders' following home game against the New York Rangers on Thursday: $54 at SeatGeek.

Sunday's prices could very well pale in comparison to what it will be like in Washington should Ovechkin go scoreless. Even now, the Capitals' home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday has tickets starting at $454 on SeatGeek, $434 on StubHub and $547 on TickPick, with lower-bowl prices in the thousands.

So you would imagine there are now Caps fans rooting against Ovechkin scoring for the first time in their lives. They at least have goaltending on their side for Sunday, as Ovechkin has never scored on Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin.

Jess Rapfogel via Getty Images

Judging from what he said publicly, Ovechkin will want to break the record at the Capital One Arena, his professional home since the Capitals drafted him first overall in 2004. He got visibly emotional when discussing what it meant to just tie Gretzky's record at home with his family in attendance after Friday's game.

Some people guaranteed tickets for the rest of Ovechkin's chase will be Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who began following the Russian this week to ensure they are present when he breaks the record. Ovechkin's next goal will see a break in play and an in-game recognition, regardless of location.

Alex Ovechkin wants to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record the right way.

The Washington Capitals star had an opportunity to not only score his unprecedented 895th career goal, but do it as part of a hat trick. He had two goals early in the third period to tie Gretzky at 894, but Chicago pulled its goalie while down 4-3 and gave him too good of an opportunity with an empty net.

Ovechkin could be seen telling Washington head coach Spencer Carbery he didn't want to come in, and confirmed he was doing so after the game. It was an understandable decision, as Ovechkin's next goal will be a highlight reel for decades to come.

You don't want that to be an empty-netter.

One player who did stay in was Capitals rookie Ryan Leonard, who notched his first career goal in his third career game.

Chicago put goalie Spencer Knight back in the game after that, so Ovechkin came back in and nearly got the hat trick anyway. He got four shot attempts off in the final two minutes and was agonizingly close to the record-breaking goal, but Knight had other plans.

The Capital One Arena crowd booed Knight for his efforts.

Ovechkin didn't get the hat trick, but the Capitals did get a 5-3 win. He now has six games remaining in the regular season to surpass Gretzky, with his next opportunity on Sunday on the road against the New York Islanders. If he wants to do it at home, he'll have to wait until Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The whole moment clearly means a lot to Ovechkin, so it's no surprise he only plans to break a record that has stood for two-and-a-half decades with a goaltender in front of him. Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will continue to follow him until he does so, with Gretzky cheering him on.