This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.

Gretzky scored 51 goals that season -- the first of his nine 50-goal seasons, an NHL record he shares with Ovechkin and Mike ...

The Washington Capitals are the top team in the NHL more than halfway through the season. Yet they’re also one of just two ...

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is 16 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record with 28 games left in the season ...

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is one of the most heralded players in NHL history. The legendary forward already has ...

Captain gets outscored by fellow Russian Matvei Michkov but moves to within 16 goals of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record in ...

Alex Ovechkin scored his 879th career goal to move to within 16 of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL goals record and the ...

Alex Ovechkin and Matvei Michkov were both at peak powers on Thursday, but Ovechkin's Capitals got the last laugh in a win ...

Matvei Michkov put on a show, scoring two goals for the Flyers. Washington's Alex Ovechkin scored Thursday night and is now ...

Alex Ovechkin scored his 879th career goal to move within 16 of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record to help the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3.

We're tracking Ovechkin's pursuit of Gretzky's goal record and trying to determine the game in which he's most likely to break the record.