WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Alex Ovechkin scored the 889th goal of his career on Tuesday night, and is now six goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record.

Ovechkin posted the game-tying goal in the third period to help the Washington Capitals force overtime and gain a point. The Winnipeg Jets won, 3-2, in the extra session.

It’s been a remarkable run this season for the East-leading Capitals, and Ovechkin, who entered the campaign 42 goals short of breaking a record that long seemed unapproachable. He missed 16 games with a broken leg but resumed his pursuit in December.

The 39-year-old Russian, in his 20th NHL season, took a pass from linemate Aliaksei Protas on Tuesday night, and fired a wrist shot past Vezina Trophy front-runner Connor Hellebuyck to tie the game.

Ovechkin, named the game’s third star in Winnipeg, had four shots on net, and finished with 17:43 time on ice across 20 shifts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.