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

Making his highly-anticipated return from a broken leg on Saturday, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin picked up right where he left off, scoring an empty-net goal for career tally No. 869 en route to a 5-2 win.

Alex Ovechkin’s record chase is back on. His empty-net goal for the Washington Capitals in Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs wasn’t the most challenging goal among the 869 he’s scored in the NHL,

Ovechkin, who suffered a broken left fibula in November, practiced in full on Friday and could play as soon as Saturday in Toronto.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is officially set to make his return to chasing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He comes back to action from a fractured fibula injury that kept him sidelines for 16 games.

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 after scoring 17 in his first 20 games this season. He needs 25 to set a new record.

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

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.

Ovechkin scored what turned out to be the winner to help the Capitals beat the New York Rangers 7-4 on Saturday. It was his 133rd game-winning goal.

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.