Alex Ovechkin scored twice in a three-goal third period as the Washington Capitals took care of the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 at Capital One Arena on Saturday night.
Ovechkin tallied his league-leading 37th and 38th goals of the season, which were also the 595th and 596th goals of his 13-year NHL career. With four more, he will become the 20th player in NHL history to reach 600 career goals.
With the Capitals holding on to a 2-1 lead in the third, Ovechkin scored from the office on a power play. Later, with the team firmly in control, he redirected a teammate’s shot past Buffalo’s netminder in the last two minutes for the final score of the game.
Saturday’s game was also Ovechkin’s 983rd game in a Capitals’ sweater, tied for the most in franchise history.
“I’m getting old, you know?” Ovechkin joked to reporters after the game. “Soon it’s going to be 1,000. That’s a pretty big number for games.”
Washington (35-20-7) reclaimed a slim lead in the Metropolitan Division at 77 points, one ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins (who lost Saturday) and the Philadelphia Flyers. The New Jersey Devils are close behind with 72 points.
As for Ovechkin’s career milestone, look for No. 600 to be celebrated in the coming days. The Capitals play at Columbus on Monday night, return home Tuesday for a game with Ottawa and finish the week Saturday against Toronto in the NHL Stadium Series game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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