Alex Ovechkin injury update: Capitals captain scores in return from broken leg

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin returned to action Saturday night from a broken leg, resuming his run at Wayne Gretzky's goal record and trying to aid his team's run toward the top record in the league.

Ovechkin, 39, helped both causes as he scored an empty-net goal to seal a 5-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs and pull within 26 goals of breaking Gretzky's record.

He was playing for the first time since he suffered a fractured left fibula on Nov. 18. He had a goal and three shots in nearly 15 minutes of ice time.

He had been working his way back to the lineup since Dec. 2, first doing a light skate in a track suit, then adding intensity to his on-ice work and eventually joining the team in practice for non-contact drills. He was cleared for contact last week.

"It was hard month," he told reporters before the game. "Work out, watch the games. You always want to help all your teammates to win. Yeah, it was hard time."

When was Alex Ovechkin injured?

Ovechkin was felled by an inadvertent leg-on-leg hit from Utah Hockey Club defenseman Jack McBain during a Nov. 18 game. He was unable to return and was diagnosed with a broken leg three days later. He was given a timeline of four to six weeks to return. He missed a little more than five.

How many games did Alex Ovechkin miss?

Ovechkin missed 16 games. The Capitals went 10-5-1 without him. With Saturday's win, they are one point out of the Metropolitan Division lead and three points out of first overall.

"The boys did a great job without me," he said before the game. "They're playing well right now, so what kind of game I'm going to represent right now because practice is one thing and in the games, it's a different speed, it's a different (intensity). You just have to be smart and play the right way."

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

After Saturday's goal, Ovechkin has 869 in his career, leaving him 26 shy of breaking Gretzky's record of 894, which has stood since 1999.

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Ovechkin injury update: Capitals star scores in first game back