Alex Ovechkin Now 17 Goals Away From Breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL Record

The Washington Capitals captain scored his 878th career goal in a dramatic finish, keeping his historic chase alive with 29 games left in the regular season.

Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal with 0.1 seconds remaining in the Capitals' 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers, closing the gap to Gretzky's record to 17 goals.
The 39-year-old has tallied 25 goals in 37 games this season, marking his 19th season with at least 25 goals, second only to Gordie Howe's record of 20 seasons.
Critics have highlighted Ovechkin's use of empty-net goals, including six this season, though such goals are common among other top scorers in the league.
The Capitals lead the Metropolitan Division with a strong 35-11-7 record, positioning themselves as contenders for another Stanley Cup run under Ovechkin's leadership.
Ovechkin's pursuit of the record is expected to continue into late March or early April, with fans and analysts closely following his progress in the remaining regular season games.