Crosby on Ovechkin and Gretzky's Record: "We couldn't have imagined it before – the gap was too big. It's great that we're both still playing and competing"

Sidney Crosby has hailed Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goalscoring record as "great" for the sport.

Ovechkin is now just 82 goals behind Gretzky's record of 894, and has shown no signs of slowing down this season, scoring 32 goals in 50 games for the Washington Capitals.

Crosby, who is second on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 563 goals, said he never thought Ovechkin would be able to catch Gretzky when he first entered the league.

"When Ovi first came into the league, the record seemed so far away," Crosby said. "But he's been so consistent for so long, and he's still playing at a high level, so it's definitely possible for him to break it."

Crosby said it would be a "special moment" for the NHL if Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's record.

"It would be a great achievement for him, and it would be great for the sport," Crosby said. "It would be a reminder of how great the game of hockey is, and how anything is possible if you work hard enough."

Ovechkin has said that he is not focused on breaking Gretzky's record, but that he is just trying to win games for the Capitals.

"I'm not thinking about the record," Ovechkin said. "I'm just trying to help my team win. If I can score some goals along the way, that's great. But the most important thing is winning."

The Capitals are currently in first place in the Metropolitan Division, and Ovechkin is a big reason why. He is on pace to score 50 goals for the ninth time in his career, and he has also been a key contributor on the power play.

If Ovechkin can continue to produce at a high level, he has a good chance of breaking Gretzky's record. It would be a historic achievement, and it would be a great moment for the NHL.