Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals not only finished his chase of Wayne Gretzky’s career NHL goals record this season, he’s given himself some breathing room over the Great One.

The 39-year-old Russian star, who broke the goals record long held by Gretzky on April 6 when he scored the 895th of his career against the New York Islanders, ended the year with 897 after scoring in Washington’s regular season finale against Pittsburgh.

Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking the regular-season record by the Great One that had long seemed unapproachable. Ovechkin began his 20th NHL season on a heater but it appeared that his bid for history might have to wait until the 2025-26 season when broke his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. Ovechkin missed 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals’ first game out of the Christmas break.

Ovechkin scored 22 goals in the final 31 games to finish with 44 on the season, tying Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for the most in a season by a player aged 39 or older.

Penguins 5, Capitals 2: Sidney Crosby finished his 20th season in the NHL with a goal and an assist to push him past the 90-point barrier for the ninth time in Pittsburgh’s victory.

The Capitals begin the quest for the franchise’s second Stanley Cup on Monday against the Montreal Canadiens. The rebuilding Penguins missed the postseason.

Rangers 4, Lightning 0: Mika Zibanejad scored twice and Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves as New York beat Tampa Bay. Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider also scored for the Rangers, who missed the playoffs a year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s best team.

Sabres 5, Flyers 4: Ryan McLeod scored a goal and added two assists, and Lindy Ruff became the NHL’s fifth coach to reach 900 wins in Buffalo’s victory over Philadelphia.

Maple Leafs 4, Red Wings 3, OT: Scott Laughton scored 56 seconds into overtime and Toronto beat Detroit. Auston Matthews, Philippe Myers and Chris Tanev — with 1.8 seconds left in regulation —also scored for Toronto.

Blue Jackets 6, Islanders 1: Cole Sillinger and Zach Werenski each had a goal and an assist and Columbus routed New York.

Senators 7, Hurricanes 5: Drake Batherson scored the tying and go-ahead goals in the third period and Ottawa tuned up for the playoffs with a victory over Carolina.

Report says Rangers’ Panarin, MSG settle sexual assault allegations: The NHL said the New York Rangers informed the league last year they were looking into sexual assault allegations by a team employee against player Artemi Panarin after a report detailing the situation and settlement payments made to the woman surfaced Thursday.

“The club retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation, which the league was fully apprised of,” the NHL said in a statement. “We consider the matter closed.”

The Athletic reported that Panarin and Madison Square Garden Sports, which owns the Rangers, paid financial settlements to a former employee last year after she alleged Panarin sexually assaulted her.

A spokesperson for MSG said in an emailed statement, “The matter has been resolved.”

Panthers Puljujarvi suspended two games: Florida Panthers forward Jesse Puljujarvi has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced. Puljujarvi received a match penalty after running his right shoulder into Chaffee’s head while it was down during a 5-1 Lightning win on Tuesday.