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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin dives for the puck during the second period against the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots at the goal against San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin waits for a face off during the second period against the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) fights with San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas, left, is congratulated by goaltender Logan Thompson (48) after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
San Jose Sharks goaltender Georgi Romanov (31) blocks a shot by Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin dives for the puck during the second period against the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots at the goal against San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin waits for a face off during the second period against the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) fights with San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas, left, is congratulated by goaltender Logan Thompson (48) after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
San Jose Sharks goaltender Georgi Romanov (31) blocks a shot by Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 887th career goal Saturday to move within eight of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record and the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1.
Ovechkin deflected a shot from Martin Fehervary past Georgi Romanov with 9:06 remaining in the third period. Romanov is the NHL-record 182nd goalie that Ovechkin has scored on.
The 39-year-old Russian star has 34 goals on the season. He remains on pace before the end of this season to pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 that long seemed unapproachable before the end of this season.
Ovechkin also had an assist on Dylan Strome’s game-opening goal to help Washington win for the sixth time in seven games.
Aliaksei Protas, Taylor Raddysh and Trevor van Riemsdyk also scored for Washington. Logan Thompson made 19 saves.
Macklin Celebrini scored for San Jose.
Alexandar Georgiev allowed three goals on 17 shots before being replaced by Romanov after the first period.
Capitals: Washington bounced back from a 3-0 loss at Los Angeles on Thursday and improved to 18-4-1 following a loss this season.
Sharks: Two nights after beating fellow bottom-dweller Chicago 4-2, San Jose was outclassed against East-leading Washington. San Jose was outshot 17-3 in the first period.
Ovechkin found Strome alone streaking down the middle and Strome beat Georgiev to the glove side 7:33 into the game. It was Ovechkin’s 776th career point on the road. He made it 777 with the goal and needs two more road points to pass Gordie Howe for the eighth most in NHL history.
The goal by van Riemsdyk came 40 seconds after the Sharks cut it to 3-1 in the third and ended his 145 game drought without a goal.
The Capitals host Detroit on Tuesday night The Sharks host Carolina on Thursday night.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
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