WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored his 500th career goal in the second period Sunday against the Ottawa Senators. He becomes the fifth-fastest player in NHL history to reach the plateau, and the 43rd overall.
Ovechkin has led the league in scoring five times, including each of the past three seasons. He netted a career-best 65 goals in 2007-08 and has scored 50 or more six times.
This marks the second milestone scoring record for Ovechkin, who became the highest-scoring Russian NHL player in history earlier this season, passing Sergei Federov.
The Washington Capitals are the first team to 30 wins in the NHL this season and lead the Eastern Conference with 67 points.