The Washington Capitals will have a handful of games exclusively televised nationally — not locally on Monumental Sports Network — in the final month of the NHL season as Alex Ovechkin chases Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record.

That has led to an important question for fans in the D.C. area: Who gets the call on TV for goal No. 895, if it comes this season? Turns out, it’s a bit complicated. But one of the answers will be Joe Beninati.

Four of the Capitals’ final 18 games are exclusive national broadcasts: April 6 at the New York Islanders (TNT), April 10 vs. the Carolina Hurricanes (ESPN Plus), April 12 at the Columbus Blue Jackets (ABC) and April 15 at the Islanders (ESPN). The Blue Jackets game was originally set to be a Monumental broadcast but was selected as an exclusive last month.

Because those games are national exclusives, Monumental cannot air a live broadcast of the game with Beninati and color commentator Alan May. But the network came to an agreement with the NHL that will allow Beninati and May — or Craig Laughlin, depending on the timeline of his return from heart surgery — to call the game for archival purposes.

If Ovechkin ties or breaks Gretzky’s record in one of the four exclusive games, Monumental’s call, featuring Beninati and an assortment of other talent, will be released on social media. The game itself will air on Monumental 24 hours after the original game’s air time.

“We don’t know when Alex is going to do it. Hopefully sooner than later. And at the same time, as a company, as a network, all of us want to be involved to the fullest,” Beninati said. “To have a normal, in-game, live game experience with that historic moment would be wonderful for all of us. For the longest of times, for the 20 years that we’ve covered him, it’s been leading up to this momentous occasion. We want to be there, but I understand the business side of sports, too. For the folks at Monumental and the Caps to have made this arrangement for us, it feels incredible.”

Beninati and Laughlin have been broadcast partners for nearly 30 years. Laughlin stepped away from the booth in January to have heart surgery. He is doing well in his rehab, but there is no timeline for his return.

Beninati, of course, would love to have Laughlin by his side for goals Nos. 894 and 895.

“It would be amazing, obviously, with all the time we’ve spent together,” Beninati said. “That would be incredible. The thing that’s most important, though, is his recovery and his return to full health. If he’s there with us, it would be terrific. I think Alan has done very well in filling in for him. … If we get that chance to do it, it would be terrific. But what’s most important is that Locker returns to full health.”

Heading into Washington’s game at Anaheim on Tuesday, Ovechkin has 33 goals in 48 games and has 886 for his career, leaving him nine from breaking Gretzky’s record. He is on pace to break the record April 10 against the Hurricanes at Capital One Arena.