The final countdown to history is on for Alex Ovechkin.
The Capitals star lit the lamp again on Wednesday night, beating Igor Shesterkin for a game-tying power play goal midway through the third period in an eventual 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
The goal was the 885th of Ovechkin’s career, putting him 10 away from setting the new record, and nine away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s total.
Ovechkin tapped a loose puck in through traffic from just inside the faceoff circle to Shesterkin’s right, near his typical office on power play opportunities. This time, he beat Shesterkin just under the blocker to begin the home stretch of his chase to history.
The goal was Ovechkin’s 32nd of the season, a feat he accomplished in just 46 games. With 20 games to go in the season, the future Hall of Famer has a real chance to break the record before the playoffs begin, where Ovechkin will look to cap off an unforgettable season with a second Stanley Cup.