NHL prepares for history as Ovechkin moves to within 2 of Gretzky's record

The National Hockey League, TV networks, and the great one himself, Wayne Gretzky, are all preparing for the inevitable

Wednesday night, Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin moved to within two of tying Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring mark

and three away from passing him. That means Ovechkin could conceivably tie or break the record Friday night at home against the Chicago Blackhawks

or Sunday at home against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin has 32 hat tricks, that's three goals in a single game, during his 20-year career

Wednesday, he notched goal number 892, the only score in a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes

He's scored in three straight games and now has 39 on the year at 39 years old

His teammates continue to be in awe. It's going to be pretty crazy

Yeah, I mean, it feels like it's right there, and he feels like he's still scoring every night

So it's been huge for us, and obviously awesome for him to see that he's still doing it at this torrid pace

I think everybody would love to have him on Friday night, him and us, for him to get that record

So we're hoping for that. The NHL is going all out in preparation with a traveling party that includes the commissioner

Gary Bettman and other league officials Ovechkin wife and two sons team owner Ted Leonsis and former teammates They follow the Capitals home or away until the record broken The

Capitals have seven regular season games left. Wednesday night, Ovechkin suggested Gretzky

would also start traveling in order to be there to pass the baton for a record that

has stood for 30 years. It's great. It's great for hockey. You know, we have a relationship

He told me his support, and I hope and I'm pretty sure he's going to join the team

and he's going to follow us. Safe to say Ovechkin is more focused on the Capitals' playoff chase

as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They have lost four of their last five games

The NHL, however, has spent months preparing for this historic moment. There will be 10 additional TV cameras at all Capitals games in the final two weeks

ESPN and TNT are also producing special OVCast channels online, which have dedicated cameras trained on the star at all times

When Ovechkin ties the record, the entire team will be able to meet him on the ice to celebrate

And when he breaks the record, officials will stop the game for a ceremony to commemorate the occasion

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis