Moscow, a cold December evening, the wind slicing through the Red Square like a sharpened blade. Inside the Kremlin, a file is slid across a dark mahogany desk.

The Great Eight is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record of 894, which Gretzky reached on March 29, 1999, against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin began this season with 853 career goals.

Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told Monumental Sports Network in December that they both plan on traveling with the team as Ovechkin approaches the record. "I think whe