Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals reacts with Spencer Knight #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks after defeating the ...

Alex Ovechkin has more empty-netters than anyone in NHL history, but he didn't feel compelled to add another against the Blackhawks.

Chicago put goalie Spencer Knight back in the game after that, so Ovechkin came back in and nearly got the hat trick anyway.

WASHINGTON --Alex Ovechkin proved Friday that he will not set the NHL goals record by scoring into an empty net. "I tell 'Carbs' (Capitals coach Spencer Carbery) right away, 'I don't want to do it ...

In a joint press conference with Ovechkin and Gretzky, the Washington Capitals captain said he didn't want to move past "The Great One" with an empty-net goal. "I tell him I don't want empty net ...

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third ...

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is poised to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record. How he got so close.

Ovechkin is arguably hockey's greatest-ever goal-scorer. So it's little surprise that he's flaunted a prowess for the empty net strike, too. As of April 1, Ovechkin has 65 empty-net snipes.

He had two goals early in the third period to tie Gretzky at 894, but Chicago pulled its goalie while down 4-3 and gave him too good of an opportunity with an empty net. Ovechkin could be seen ...