Alex Ovechkin scored his 885th career goal midway through the third period of the Washington Capitals’ game against New York Rangers on Wednesday night, moving nine away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record.

Alex Ovechkin scored the 884th goal of his NHL career to move 10 away from tying Wayne Gretzky's record.

Alex Ovechkin had so many chance to score in the Washington Capitals’ rout of the Edmonton Oilers that he joked, “I’ll take three.”.

The second half of the NHL season begins Saturday with 14 games coming out of the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Washington Capitals are the top team in the NHL more than halfway through the season.

Alex Ovechkin could return to the Washington Capitals lineup when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first game back from the NHL’s Christmas break.

Alex Ovechkin skated by himself before Washington Capitals practice as he works to return from a broken leg.

Alex Ovechkin is off to a hot start, and so are the Washington Capitals.

Alex Ovechkin has just one shot on goal through two games of the Washington Capitals’ first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, which they trail 2-0.

Defenses around the NHL playoffs have been depleted by existing and new injuries, from Tampa Bay’s Mikhail Sergachev and Colorado’s Samuel Girard being out long term to Carolina’s Brett Pesce going down Monday night and Washington being down to minor leaguers to fill its many voids.

The playoff races across the NHL are coming down to the final week of the regular season.

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson has reached the 1,000 NHL games milestone, and pop singer Vanessa Carlton took part in the celebration.

Alex Ovechkin has scored a goal in five consecutive games to make it his longest streak in nearly three years.

Some early trends are showing in the NHL.

Conor Sheary scored the overtime winner and the short-handed Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 to guarantee they’ll open the playoffs at home.