Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.

Ovechkin entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky's record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Washington captain has 23 goals this season, with 31 games left. This season, he moved into second place with 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons and set a record for the number of goalies he has scored against in his career.

In the third period of a Thursday night battle between the Washington Capitals and the Ottawa Senators, future NHL Hall of Famer inched closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. “Alex Ovechkin scored on the PP and is now 19 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record,

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is 20 goals away from making history, as he's on pace to finish with 895 goals, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for the most all-time.

Alex Ovechkin moved within 19 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, scoring on a late power play in the Washington Capitals’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night

Alex Ovechkin had only recorded one goal in his last five games played until Thursday night. "The Great Eight" came up clutch when the Washington Capitals needed him most with a third period tally to close the gap with the Ottawa Senators to 4-3.