Caps F Alex Ovechkin sets NHL record for empty-net goals

Alex Ovechkin is 60 goals from tying Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history, but the Washington Capitals star broke the Hall of Fame legend's empty-net goal record on Saturday.

Capping a 3-0 win over the host Boston Bruins, Ovechkin scored his 57th career empty-net goal with 27 seconds left to snap a tie with Gretzky.

With his 12th goal of the season and fourth in his last four games, the 38-year-old Russian star has 834 goals, second only to Gretzky's 894.

Ovechkin needed 1,394 games to break the empty-net mark, while Gretzky scored his 56 in 1,487 games.

Along with Saturday's record, Ovechkin has the most power-play goals (304) and overtime goals (26) in NHL history.