Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has now moved within 23 goals of catching Wayne Gretzky for most goals in NHL history.

Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists, Alex Ovechkin added his 872nd career goal and the Washington Capitals earned a 7-4 victory against the visiting New York Rangers on Saturday. Logan Thompson made 29 saves for the Capitals as Ovechkin inched closer to Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals.

The Washington Capitals lost a shootout contest against the Minnesota Wild in their recent contest. They managed to snag a point against a rock solid Wild team and their best player, Alex Ovechkin, took one step closer in his historic pursuit.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is expected to make his much-anticipated return to the lineup either Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs or Sunday facing the Detroit Red Wings after missing five weeks with a broken fibula.

The veteran has missed the last 16 games for Washington after suffering a broken fibula against the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 18.

The Great Eight is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record of 894, which Gretzky reached on March 29, 1999, against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin began this season with 853 career goals.

Ovechkin has four goals in five games since returning from missing the previous 16 because of a broken left leg.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin scored in the third period of the Capitals' 7-4 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon, bringing him within 23 of breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time scoring record.

Alex Ovechkin nets his 872nd career goal and is 23 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's record.

Alex Ovechkin moved another step closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record by tormenting Marc-Andre Fleury one more time. The Washington Capitals captain scored his 871st goal by beating Fleury on a power play in the second period against Minnesota on Thursday night.