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.

Washington blows a pair of leads in a 4-3 loss even as Alex Ovechkin pulls within 24 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s hallowed goals record. The Minnesota Wild has had the Washington Capitals’ number over the past three seasons, and that run continued Thursday night at Capital One Arena — with this latest chapter ending in a shootout.

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin has 870 goals and needs 25 to set a new record.

At this point, the record falling looks imminent. But when? Now that's an interesting and possibly infuriating question.

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.