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 Saturday.

Ovechkin has four goals in five games since returning from missing the previous 16 because of a broken left leg. The 39-year-old has 19 goals this season and is on pace to pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 this spring.

Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. He missed 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals’ first game out of the Christmas break.

Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals and shots on goal.He also has 133 game-winning goals, three away from breaking Jaromir Jagr’s mark (135). Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr. Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).

NFL

Bucs Safety out >> Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead was injured in a car accident and will not play against the Saints on Sunday.

The Buccaneers placed Whitehead on the reserve/non-football injury list and signed safety Ryan Neal from the practice squad.

Whitehead has 79 tackles, two tackles for loss and one quarterback hit in 12 games.

Soccer

goalkeeper has rough debut >> Former United States youth international Brandon Austin waited around a decade for his first start for Tottenham.

When he got it, the 25-year-old goalkeeper quickly found out how unforgiving the Premier League is.

Austin, who possesses dual American/English nationality and once played for the U.S. under 18s, conceded in the sixth minute of his senior debut for Spurs when England winger Anthony Gordon drove a low shot into the far corner for Newcastle to make it 1-1. It was the first shot Austin faced.

Austin and Tottenham wound up losing 2-1.

Premier League roundup >> Erling Haaland and Manchester City might just be turning the corner after the team’s worst run of results under Pep Guardiola.

Haaland scored twice in a 4-1 win over West Ham on Saturday as City secured back-to-back victories in the Premier League for the first time since late October, when a shocking and unthinkable six-week meltdown began.

It was a good day for Liverpool — and the league leader didn’t even play.

Arsenal was held to 1-1 at Brighton, which equalized from the penalty spot through Joao Pedro, and missed the chance to trim the gap to Liverpool to three points. Ethan Nwaneri put Arsenal ahead and, at age 17, became only the sixth player under 18 to score multiple Premier League goals.

Chelsea’s winless run in the league extended to four matches after drawing at Palace 1-1.

Jean-Philippe Mateta equalized in the 82nd for Palace, cancelling out Cole Palmer’s opener.

College football

Georgia coach’s dad dies >> Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s father, Sonny, died early Saturday of complications from hip surgery after falling in New Orleans ahead of the Sugar Bowl, the school announced.

Sonny Smart, a longtime high school football coach in Alabama and Georgia, fell while walking on New Year’s Eve and fractured his hip. He was hospitalized and had hip surgery at Ochsner Medical Center, where he died surrounded by his family, Georgia said in a statement.

Golf

PGA making tour changes >> Commissioner Jay Monahan wasn’t kidding when he told the PGA Tour staff in his year-end message “everything was on the table.” That includes what could be another massive overhaul at the Tour Championship to determine the FedEx Cup champion.

How soon it happens — and what it looks like — is part of a study that ultimately will require PGA Tour board approval.

And like everything else, getting everyone on the same page might be the biggest obstacle.

“I’d like to see something the players are excited about,” said Patrick Cantlay, one of six players on the board.