COLUMBUS -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 899th NHL goal, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 at Nationwide Arena on Friday.

Ovechkin scored at 1:36 of the third period to make it 2-0. He can become the first player to reach 900 goals when the Capitals host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Ovechkin added an assist, John Carlson and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist, and Logan Thomson made 34 saves and also had an assist for the Capitals (6-2-0), who have won six of their past seven.

Denton Mateychuk scored, and Jet Greaves made 25 saves for the Blue Jackets (3-4-0), who had won two in a row.

Carlson made it 1-0 with a slap shot from the point at 18:19 of the second period. The puck deflected off the stick of Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski wi

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