Ovechkin nets 887th, now 8 away from NHL record

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- During the Washington Capitals' 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, Alex Ovechkin scored his 887th career goal Saturday to move within eight of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record.

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 whom Ovechkin has scored on.

Capitals fans should be used to the late heroics. According to ESPN Research, Ovechkin now has 18 tallies this season in the third period, the most in the NHL.

Ovechkin, 39, has 34 goals on the season. He remains on pace 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 the Capitals. 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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.