Like everyone else in the hockey world, new Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery will be keeping a close eye on Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky on the NHL's all-time goals list.

"It's a huge responsibility for me as a head coach. … It's my job as a head coach to put him in situations where he can be successful," Carbery said during his introductory press conference Thursday. "That's what my challenge is, and I don't take that lightly at all.

"That'll work into how we play as a group. That'll be one of my focuses – how do we put him in situations to succeed?"

Ovechkin scored 42 goals in 73 games this season and is 73 tallies away from surpassing Gretzky in the No. 1 spot. He passed Gordie Howe for sole possession of second place on the list in December.