has taking his next big step in hockey history.

Ovechkin is just two goals from passing for second on the career list. B次元官网网址淢r. HockeyB次元官网网址� is the only player between Ovechkin and that long seemed unapproachable. The longtime captain remains very much on track to challenge the B次元官网网址淕reat One.B次元官网网址�

Mark Howe told Ovechkin exactly that when they sat down last week.

B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址業 know youB次元官网网址檙e going to pass Gordie, congratulations, but you have to have your sights set on No. 99,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Howe recalled Wednesday, referring to GretzyB次元官网网址檚 longtime sweater number. B次元官网网址滲ecause once you start getting close and once you see that itB次元官网网址檚 within reach, it makes it a huge motivating factor.B次元官网网址�

But first, Nos. 801 and 802, which Ovechkin could score as soon as . The Capitals also host the Toronto Maple Leafs B次元官网网址� on B次元官网网址淗ockey Night in Canada,B次元官网网址� no less B次元官网网址� on Saturday and GordieB次元官网网址檚 longtime former team, the Detroit Red Wings, on Monday night.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 take it step by step,B次元官网网址� Ovechkin said Tuesday night in Chicago after reaching the 800-goal plateau with a hat trick that brought him a standing ovation. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big number. ItB次元官网网址檚 the best company you ever can imagine since you started playing hockey, with Gordie (and Wayne) B次元官网网址� 800, IB次元官网网址檓 the third person who ever scored that many goals.B次元官网网址�

Mark Howe, GordieB次元官网网址檚 youngest son and himself a Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman and longtime scout, fondly remembers Gretzky asking his father to join him during his approach of the old record in March 1994 and knows his parents would be fully supportive of Ovechkin if they were still alive. That was another message to Ovechkin, who Howe has made a point to talk to in person instead of simply recording congratulatory video messages.

B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址業f Gordie and (his wife) Colleen were here, theyB次元官网网址檇 be supporting you 100%,B次元官网网址� and thereB次元官网网址檚 zero doubt of that,B次元官网网址� Howe said. B次元官网网址淚 said: B次元官网网址楾he Howe family, weB次元官网网址檙e pulling for you. WeB次元官网网址檙e rooting for you.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

something that would take 95 more goals for the best scorer of this generation who is 37 and producing at a clip never seen by a player this age. Ovechkin has three more years left on the contract he signed in 2021 with an eye on GretzkyB次元官网网址檚 mark. At his pace this season, he would surpass 50 goals and put him 60 or so away from the record.

Another 50-goal season would be OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 10th, passing Gretzky in that department. Mark Howe is not betting against Ovechkin getting to 895.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 his health and itB次元官网网址檚 his passion for the game,B次元官网网址� Howe said. B次元官网网址淎s long as he has passion and heB次元官网网址檚 out there battling, competing, heB次元官网网址檚 going to score his share of goals. And whether it takes two years, three years, four B次元官网网址� whatever it takes B次元官网网址� but as long as he still has a love and a passion for the game, yeah, then that record will get broke.B次元官网网址�

HoweB次元官网网址檚 mark, which stood for 14 years from the when he retired in 1980 at age 52, is another stepping stone for Ovechkin, who has passed Phil Esposito, Marcel Dionne, Brett Hull and Jaromir Jagr to move into third place. Ovechkin already owns records for the most goals scored on the road and the power play and with the same franchise.

Following another locker room celebration of a milestone by Ovechkin, Capitals coach Peter Laviolette remarked, B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 something every night.B次元官网网址� And much of that is because Ovechkin has separated himself in the pantheon of the sportB次元官网网址檚 best at putting the puck in the net.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what great goal-scorers do,B次元官网网址� Laviolette said. B次元官网网址淭hey know where to go. I think they know where to be. I think they know where the puckB次元官网网址檚 going to go. I think they have a knack for getting it off of their stick. I think they have great detail in the execution of the actual shot. You donB次元官网网址檛 get there by luck, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure.B次元官网网址�

Mark Howe knows that and believes his father would have a deep appreciation for Ovechkin, much like his peers during GordieB次元官网网址檚 prime more than a half-century ago. ItB次元官网网址檚 a little different in that Gretzky idolized Howe before Ovechkin was born, but Mark was struck by something the superstar Russian winger said during a joint interview.

B次元官网网址淎lex, he goes, B次元官网网址榃ell, yeah, his name is B次元官网网址楳r. Hockey,B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 got to mean something,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Howe said. B次元官网网址淒ad earned his stripes back in the B次元官网网址�50s and B次元官网网址�60s primarily, but his name I think still looms large in hockey.B次元官网网址�

So will OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 long after he passes Howe and takes his best shot at Gretzky.

B次元官网网址擲tephen Whyno, The Associated Press