At the age of 39 and 21 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has the best goal-scoring pace in the NHL. Ovechkin has 21 goals in 29 games, including six in 11 games since returning from a broken leg that held him out for 40 days.

The 39-year-old winger took a pass from Rasmus Sandin on a 2-on-1 breakaway and fired it past rookie Leevi Merilainen, the record 179th goaltender he's scored on.

1980 — Goaltender Jim Stewart, in his first and only game with the Boston Bruins ... 1989 — LA Kings center Wayne Gretzky becomes NHL’s all-time leading scorer in combined regular season ...

Wayne Gretzky scored 894 goals in 1,487 career NHL games. Alex Ovechkin is poised to shatter that record, having scored 872 times in 1,451 games through Wednesday night. That's a combined 2,938 ...

Rather than ice a roster merely helping Ovi break Gretzky's record, the Caps have been one of the NHL's best. Here's how they threaded the needle.

The Edmonton Oilers allowed Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin an opportunity to try on some of Wayne Gretzky’s equipment. After the Capitals finished their practice at Rogers Place on Monday,

Tom McVie, Boston Bruins ambassador and former coach for the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets, is dead at age of 89.

Ovechkin did not score in the Capitals' 3–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. However, he moved within 21 goals of passing Gretzky with No. 874 in his career after scoring the game-winner in overtime against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The goal was his 21st this season.

The Penguins played back-to-back nights on Friday and Saturday in Buffalo and Washington, then traveled on a cross-country flight to California on Sunday, arriving around 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Then, they had to play again last night against a really good team.

Anze Kopitar and the Kings honored firefighters and first responders in the team’s emotional return to Crypto.com Arena. \* Mitch Marner passed Borje Salming atop a franchise list as the Maple Leafs strengthened their grip on first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Bruins have called up two forwards. The Oilers' Leon Draisaitl says he guesses the NHL doesn't care about their best players playing, while Corey Perry says every other league protects superstars. This is tough news for the Bruins.