Alex Ovechkin scored his 900th career goal as the Washington Capitals defeated the visiting St. Louis Blues 6-1 on Wednesday.
Anthony Beauvillier and Tom Wilson each scored two goals, and John Carlson had a goal and an assist as the Capitals snapped a four-game winless streak.
Jakob Chychrun recorded three assists for Washington and goaltender Logan Thompson made 23 saves.
Alexey Toropchenko scored for the slumping Blues, who are 1-6-2 in their last nine games.
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington allowed four goals on 15 shots before giving way to Joel Hofer midway through the game.
Ovechkin set up his league-record 900th goal by knocking down an outlet attempt by Binnington early in the second period. When Chychrun’s ensuing shot caromed to him off the end boards, Ovechkin scored on a spinning backhand from a bad angle before Binnington could get to the post.
Beauvillier increased Washington’s lead to 3-0 at the 4:33 mark of the period by cutting to his backhand and lifting a shot past Binnington.
Carlson made it 4-0 at 9:28 of the second by stealing the puck inside the St. Louis blue line and scoring with a turnaround shot from the slot.
Beauvillier pushed the lead to 5-0 at 16:20 by beating Hofer over his shoulder on the short side from the left circle.
Toropchenko got the Blues on the scoreboard by scoring short-handed 37 seconds into the third period.
But Wilson crashed the net for a rebound conversion at 9:00 to extend Washington’s lead to 6-1.
The Capitals controlled the first period while outshooting the Blues 12-5 and taking a 1-0 lead.
Washington pinned the exhausted Blues in their own zone during a three-shift sequence, firing away at Binnington until they finally drew a penalty. The Capitals converted their man advantage when Carlson fired a slap shot and Wilson deflected it past Binnington.
–Field Level Media
