Alex Ovechkin continued his torrid pace Tuesday night, reaching 30 goals in a season for the 19th time in his 20-year NHL career, and adding to the league record he set last season with his 18th, as his Washington Capitals lost to the Calgary Flames 3-1.

Heading into the Capitals’ final 27 games, Ovechkin has 879 goals during his 20 NHL seasons, including 26 goals in 39 games this season, leaving him 16 from breaking Wayne Gretzky ’s League record of 894. Ovechkin insisted that record wasn’t on his mind during the break, though.

Washington Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record has been one of the driving narratives of this NHL season, but he’s already made more history.

Ovechkin will resume play when the Washington Capitals visit the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby (a game-time decision after returning from playing for Canada at 4 Nations) at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN360, TVAS) with 879 goals in his 20 NHL seasons.

Being so calm is a perfect situation not only for Ovechkin, but for the Capitals as a whole. The Capitals are surprising the NHL as the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 36-11-8 record ...

Amadeus Lombardi was named the first star in Grand Rapds' 6-4 win over the Texas Stars in AHL action at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Sitting in his stall at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, still wearing his gear, untying his trademark yellow laces and proudly wearing his No. 8 on a gold chain around his neck, Alex Ovechkin glances over.