Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net with 0.1 seconds left on the clock to move closer to Wayne Gretzky's NHL career record, and the Washington Capitals defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net with 0.1 seconds left on the clock to move closer to Wayne Gretzky's NHL record, and the Washington Capitals defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 6-3 on Tuesday night.

WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th NHL goal in the Washington Capitals 6-3 win against the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena on Tuesday. Ovechkin scored into an empty net with one second remaining to move within 17 goals of passing Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894. Ovechkin has 25 goals on the season.

Lars Eller and Nic Dowd each scored a goal early in the third period and captain Alex Ovechkin added career goal No. 878, lifting the host Washington Capitals to a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

Alex Ovechkin has been regarded as one of the best goal-scorers of this generation. However, he is well on his way to breaking the previously unbeatable record of 894 career goals set by The Great One, Wayne Gretzky. The best part? He can break that record this season.

Alex Ovechkin scored the 877th goal of his career to move 18 away from breaking the NHL record, but the Washington Capitals lost 5-4 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets in a showdown of the top two teams in the NHL that lived up to that billing.

The Capitals captain is a team player through and through, coach Spencer Carbery said. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is 20 goals away from making history, as he's on pace to finish with 895 goals, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for the most all-time.

Ovechkin, who is 18 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky ’s all-time record (894), tied the score 4-4 at 12:21 of the third period, scoring on a slap shot from just inside the blue line that went in off Connor Hellebuyck ’s glove. It was Ovechkin’s 24th goal of the season.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net with 0.1 seconds left on the clock to move closer to Wayne Gretzky’s in Washington’s win over the Florida Panthers.

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin has 878 goals and needs 17 to break the record. Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking the regular-season record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable.