Alex Ovechkin scored his 872nd career goal to move 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, and the Washington Capitals beat the struggling New York Rangers 7-4.

The 39-year-old snuck a backhanded shot past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick to give Washington a 5-3 lead in what would become a 7-4 win, marking his 19th goal of the year and his fourth in his last five games played.