Reminders of Alex Ovechkin's goal record chase are everywhere around Washington — and in Russia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The goal horn went off at Bugsy's Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar as it does every time the Washington Capitals score a goal. Bar manager Armenia Marconi was working downstairs and scurried up to see who it was.

Sure enough, Alex Ovechkin. Goal 891 to move four back of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record. Marconi grabbed the remote control for the goal counter hanging above the bar, and fans inside the popular neighborhood hockey bar who were waiting in anticipation erupted again.

“It was like he scored again,” she said. “As soon as it went down to 4, the whole bar started cheering.”

Firefighter James Mazzara, watching from home, had the same reaction. His firehouse around the corner from the Capitals' arena in Washington also has a counter out front, so he immediately texted a colleague who was working to remind him to update the number.

“We stay on top of it as much as we can,” Mazzara said.

Reminders of Ovechkin's pursuit of Gretzky's record are everywhere in the nation's capital and surrounding suburbs, including more than a dozen “GR8 Chase” goal counters in places like the original Ben's Chili Bowl and the Georgetown Waterfront, where the longtime captain and his teammates celebrated winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 by swimming in fountains. There are also 'ight-up goal counters and messages of encouragement in Ovechkin's hometown of Moscow as his pursuit of the milestone nears its end.

He was at 892, two away from tying Gretzky and three from setting the record going into a home game Friday night against Chicago.

“You’re not stopping it,” said veteran coach Paul Maurice of the Florida Panthers. “He’s going to break the record. It is an incredible record. This is beyond generational because nobody was breaking that record.”

It feels more like matter of when, not if, Ovechkin passes Gretzky's legendary mark of 894, considered by many to be untouchable. The Capitals have seven games left before the playoffs, which means Ovechkin has seven games left because the record reflects only regular-season goals. Otherwise, he would pick up the pursuit next season.

The NHL created an entire microsite to document the chase. The Capitals have an online way for people to check in from where they are watching from. There are free lawn signs to display.

“We knew when thinking about the (Washington area) and even across the world that people would want to be counting together, so digital is one thing, but there’s certainly something special about having the more traditional countdown clock,” said Amanda Tischler, Capitals senior VP of marketing. “(The hope was) these different places across the city would have fun counting down until he hits this major milestone.”

Goal counters went to more than a half-dozen youth hockey rinks in Maryland and northern Virginia, national NHL TV rightsholders ESPN and TNT and to local institutions with Capitals connections, like Ben's Chili Bowl, which has been a local staple since opening in 1958.

“We’re honored to have one of the goal trackers at Ben’s,” said Vida Ali, one of the family members who runs the restaurant. “When the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, this is one of the places they brought the Stanley Cup. Now another exciting moment, and what an amazing time for the Caps and Ovi.”