The 39-year-old snuck a backhanded shot past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick to give Washington a 5-3 lead in what would become a 7-4 win, marking his 19th goal of the year and his fourth in his last five games played.

Alex Ovechkin scored the fifth goal in a 7-4 win to get No. 872 and move 23 back of breaking Gretzky’s record of 894 that long seemed unapproachable.

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