Bruce Boudreau always saw greatness in “The Great 8”. The former Vancouver Canucks head coach guided Alex Ovechkin for nearly five seasons with the Washington Capitals. His awe of the NHL superstar became a conviction that he would one day eclipse Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record of 894.

Alexander Ovechkin is thrilled that his Washington Capitals will face an Edmonton Oilers team without Connor McDavid.

Alex Ovechkin is closing in on Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal record. Ovechkin has scored 872 goals in 1,451 games. He is just 23 goals away from breaking Gretzky's tally of 894 goals in 1,487 games.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is no stranger to passion. Passion is what's powered the 39-year-old to great heights over the course of his 20-year career, as he now sits just 21 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history. It's also landed him in some heated moments.

The Canucks raised the bar last season by winning the Pacific Division and coming a game away from the Western Conference Final. As much as the Canucks have been able to hang onto a playoff spot with a league-leading ten overtime/shootout losses, the expectations are higher than that now.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pierre-Luc Dubois scored his second goal of the game late in overtime, Logan Thompson made 30 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the Vancouver Canucks ... He is 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career record.

He is 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL career record. Canucks: Playing still without injured center Elias Pettersson, they were better defensively than in their last game but could not ...

WASHINGTON — Pierre-Luc Dubois scored his second goal of the game late in overtime, Logan Thompson made 30 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Wednesday night ...

Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin is happy his team doesn't have to face Connor McDavid on Tuesday night.

The Oilers saw a four-game road trip come to an end in a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks that also has them without their captain for the next three games. Connor McDavid was suspended three games for crosschecking Conor Garland in the dying seconds.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games after cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland in the head.

NHL fans were preparing to watch another edition of Alex Ovechkin against Connor McDavid on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, that won't happen.