WASHINGTON — Coaching Alex Ovechkin for three seasons has normalized his hot pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record for Peter Laviolette. “Not a crazy thing at all,” Laviolette said before his New York Rangers faced Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Saturday. “I don’t see him slowing down.”

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.

The Washington Capitals took care of business on Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital city, defeating the New York Rangers by a 7-4 final score. And doing the game, the ageless Alex Ovechkin continued his pursuit of history.

Ovehckin is 23 goals back of the all-time leader, meaning Washington's games in late March and April will be must-see TV.

As Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin chases greatness and a record once thought to be impossible, he finds himself in the spotlight on the path to 895 career goals — but he refuses to bask in it.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is already one of the most heralded players in NHL history. The legendary forward already has a ton of records on the NHL history books, but there's one more still to go that could put him in the pantheon of all-time greats.