Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren said he was motivated to beat the New York Rangers due to them trading his brother, Ryan.

While in the Hall of Fame’s famed Stick Storage Centre, which holds more than 4,000 sticks, the oldest dating to 1875, Ovechkin was fascinated with an old, wooden one with a long flat blade. It belonged to Maurice Richard, who held the NHL goal record with 544 before Howe passed him on Nov. 10, 1963.

Analyzing Sunday’s Seattle Kraken at Washington Capitals odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 886th career goal into an empty net to seal the Washington Capitals' 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, moving nine back of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record and helping the Eastern Conference leaders win their fourth game in a row.

Alex Ovechkin is nearing Wayne Gretzky’s record for career goals, but his Washington Capitals are also flying toward the playoffs.

Ovechkin pulled nine goals from tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record as the Capitals got their second straight win.

Alex Ovechkin pulls within 10 goals of breaking the most hallowed record in hockey and Tom Wilson scores in OT to lift the Capitals over the Rangers.

Alex Ovechkin got his 885th career goal to tie it midway through the third period, Tom Wilson scored 4:07 into overtime and the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Wednesday night.