CHICAGO — Alex Ovechkin scored three times to become the third NHL player with 800 career goals, and the streaking Washington Capitals beat the lowly Chicago Blackhawks, 7-3, on Tuesday night.
Ovechkin scored on his first two shots, beating Petr Mrazek 24 seconds into the game before stuffing one home on a power play with 11:46 left in the first period. The 37-year-old winger then completed his 29th career hat trick when he sent a rebound over a sprawled Mrazek 6:34 into the third.
The rest of the Capitals poured onto the ice to celebrate after the milestone goal, and the United Center crowd responded by throwing their hats down and chanting “Ovi! Ovi!” Ovechkin acknowledged the cheers with a wave.
Ovechkin moved within one goal of Gordie Howe for second all-time. Wayne Gretzky has the record with 894 goals.
Ovechkin has seven goals in his last four games and a team-high 20 on the season. His previous four goals were all empty-netters.
Nic Dowd, Anthony Mantha, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Dmitry Orlov also scored as Washington earned its fifth straight win. Conor Sheary had two assists, and Charlie Lindgren made 26 stops.
The Capitals went 6-2-1 during a nine-game stretch that had only one home date. They play seven of their next nine at home, beginning Thursday night against Dallas.
Chicago dropped to 1-11-1 in its last 13 games. It has scored just four goals during a four-game slide.
Jonathan Toews, Max Domi and Tyler Johnson scored for Chicago, and Mrazek finished with 23 saves.
It was Johnson’s first game since Oct. 25. He had been sidelined by a right ankle injury.
