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

Bruce Boudreau always saw greatness in “The Great 8”. The former Vancouver Canucks head coach guided Alex Ovechkin for nearly five seasons with the Washington Capitals. His awe of the NHL superstar became a conviction that he would one day eclipse Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record of 894.

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.

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.

Ovechkin, who suffered a broken left fibula in November, and the Capitals will face the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

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.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 872nd career goal to move 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, and the Washington Capitals beat the struggling New York Rangers 7-4 Saturday. Ovechkin has four goals in five games since returning from missing the previous 16 because of a broken left leg.