Wayne Gretzky’s ex-coach makes his feelings known about 'superhuman' Alex Ovechkin inching closer to breaking all-time goal record 

Alex Ovechkin is getting closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record of 894 goals. Glen Sather, Gretzky’s former coach with the Edmonton Oilers, shared his thoughts about Ovechkin’s chase on Thursday.

Sather, who coached Gretzky to four Stanley Cup wins in the 1980s, hopes the record isn’t broken.

"I just hope, I hope that his record isn't broken by the veteran," Sather said on the 32 Thoughts podcast. "You don't want it, no, and for a lot of reasons. I mean, the game is different than it was then. There was all kinds of waiting to quit because his back was so bad guys crochet him after he scored goals.

"You scored goals. And the way that Ovechkin is a superhuman he's like 245 pounds of solid muscle, and I just don't want to see go to Russia. Does everybody agree or not? Understood? A lot of guys probably won't say that. I'm sure Wayne won't say it. But, you know, they say records to be broken. As far as I'm concerned, that one shouldn't be broken." [15:45]

Alex Ovechkin scored his 874th NHL goal on Thursday. The Washington Capitals beat the Ottawa Senators 1-0 in overtime. With the goal, Ovechkin is now just 21 goals away from breaking Gretzky’s record.

Ovechkin also set another record, scoring against his 179th different goalie, passing Jaromir Jagr’s record of 178.

Alex Ovechkin's goal was the sole goal in the game

Washington Capitals found a strong opponent in the Ottawa Senators as both teams failed to score any goals during the first three periods. Alex Ovechkin broke the tie in overtime. His goal came off a pass from Rasmus Sandin during a 2-on-1. He fired a snap shot past Senators goalie Leevi Merilainen.

“I knew I should take a shot as soon as I can because I thought he may be thinking I will pass it back to ‘Sandy,’” Ovechkin said about the goal, per NHL.com. “It was a good one, and it went in, so I’ll take it.”

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery called Alex Ovechkin’s career “remarkable.”

“You just continue to check boxes on his remarkable career, scoring on different guys and in different buildings and against every team," Carbery said. "It’s remarkable what he’s doing.”

Capitals goalie Logan Thompson made 24 saves for his second straight shutout.