Alex Ovechkin scores his 889th career goal to move 6 goals away from breaking Gretzky’s NHL record WSOC TV [Video]

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 889th career goal and had to go right by Scott Arniel and the Winnipeg Jets to celebrate with his Washington Capitals teammates. He didn’t let the opportunity go to waste.

“He came by the bench and gave me the biggest smirk,” Arniel, who was an assistant with the Capitals from 2018-22, said with his own smile.

Ovechkin is now five goals away from tying and six from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record after scoring late Tuesday night to tie a game between the top two teams in the NHL. The goal forced overtime before the Jets won 3-2.

“I’m glad he got the goal,” Arniel said. “I’m glad he’s getting closer to whatever that number is. At the end of the day, that’s him. It doesn’t take much. The puck is on his stick, off his stick. I thought we did a really good job for most of the game …