Alex Ovechkin edges closer to all-time goals lead as Caps rout Blues

Alex Ovechkin scored twice to add to his historic goal total and power the visiting Washington Capitals past the St. Louis Blues 8-1 Saturday.

In his 20-year career, Ovechkin has 863 goals, leaving him 32 away from passing Wayne Gretzky for No. 1 on the NHL's all-time list.

Connor McMichael also scored twice for the Capitals, who won for the 10th time in 14 games (10-4-0).

Jakob Chychrun and Michael Sgarbossa had a goal and assist, and Rasmus Sandin and Brandon Duhaime also scored for Washington. Dylan Strome had three assists, Andrew Mangiapane and Tom Wilson had two apiece, and goaltender Logan Thompson made 24 saves.

Defenseman Scott Perunovich scored and Jordan Binnington made 19 saves for the Blues, who lost for the fifth time in their last seven games.

McMichael scored 59 seconds into the first period to put the Capitals up 1-0. He scored from the left wing on a 2-on 2 rush. The Blues allowed the first goal in their seventh consecutive game the Blues allowed the first goal.

St. Louis tied the game 1-1 at the 7:07 mark with Perunovich's first NHL goal. On a set play off a faceoff win, Perunovich broke into the slot to convert a pass from defensive partner Matthew Kessel.

Ovechkin put the Capitals ahead 2-1 with 12:18 left in the second period by taking a cross-ice pass from Aliaksei Protas and scoring from the left circle.

Chychrun made it 3-1 after McMichael stole the puck from Blues winger Jordan Kyrou coming out of his zone. Chychrun stepped into the high slot and converted a pass from Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Ovechkin scored a power-play goal 2:09 into the third period after taking a back-door pass from Strome. Then Sandin made it 5-1, scoring as the trailer to Sgarbossa's rush.

McMichael scored a power-play goal, cutting in from the right side, to increase the Capitals' lead to 6-1. Sgarbossa made it 7-1 by driving to the net for a redirection goal, and Duhaime made it 8-1 by redirecting John Carlson's centering pass.