Ovechkin moves 9 behind Gretzky with 885th goal

NEW YORK -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 885th career goal midway through the third period of the Washington Capitals' 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, moving nine away from tying Wayne Gretzky's NHL record.

The Capitals' captain scored as he knocked in a loose puck from the left side with 9:32 left in the third period to tie the score at 2-2. Ovechkin now has 46 goals in 76 career games against the Rangers.

Ovechkin has 32 goals in 46 games this season. He had 15 goals in his first 18 games, then sat out 16 games because of a fractured left fibula. He returned Dec. 28 and has scored 17 in 28 games since.

The Russian star is on pace to break Gretzky's once seemingly unapproachable mark of 894 in early April, a few weeks before the regular season is over.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.