Entering the 2024-25 season, Ovechkin needed 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career tallies. After scoring goal No. 879 on February 6, Ovechkin now needs just 16 goals to pass Gretzky for the NHL’s record.

We're tracking Ovechkin's pursuit of Gretzky's goal record and trying to determine the game in which he's most likely to break the record.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 879th career goal to move within 16 of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL goals record and the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Thursday night.