Gretzky will accompany Ovechkin when he's four goals away from the Canadian's record

Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and National Hockey League (NHL) commissioner Gary Bettman will accompany Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin when the Russian is four goals away from tying the Canadian record for regular-season goals scored. Bettman said this on Saturday, December 7, in an interview with journalist Tariq El-Bashir.

The Canadian forward has scored 894 pucks in his career, while Ovechkin has 868 goals.

"I think we'll start following him when he has five, well at most four pucks left before the record. And another great, number 99 (Wayne Gretzky. - Ed.) will also be with me. I think when he has four or five pucks left before the record, we just won't have a chance," - said the NHL commissioner.

"I wish Ovechkin to break Gretzky's record as early as this season."

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Earlier, on December 2, Ovechkin resumed training on the ice. The forward was injured in the third period of the Washington Capitals game against Utah on November 19. The hockey player hurt his knee in a collision with Utah forward Jack McBain and was forced to leave the ice with the help of another player.

Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery later revealed that Ovechkin was being examined after the injury. The hockey player's agent Gleb Chistyakov said that the athlete feels normal, but will miss four to six weeks because of the injury.

Ovechkin's injury stopped his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's record, in the match with Utah Ovechkin increased the total number of goals in the regular season to 868 and reduced the gap with the Canadian to 26 goals.