Ovechkin scores 900th regular-season goal as Capitals beat Blues 6-1

Alex Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to score 900 regular-season goals Wednesday night, converting a backhand at 2:39 of the second period to give the Washington Capitals a lead in their 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Washington.

Ovechkin intercepted a clearing attempt, collected a rebound off the boards and slipped a backhand past Blues goalie Jordan Binnington for the milestone. As Capitals teammates converged to celebrate, television cameras showed Binnington pick up the puck and tuck it into his pants. Linesman Michel Cormier approached the crease, retrieved the puck and left the ice with the game puck in hand.

The goal opened a decisive second-period run for Washington. Tom Wilson broke the scoring open in the first period by tipping in a point shot from John Carlson, and after Ovechkin's milestone, Anthony Beauvillier and Carlson scored within the next seven minutes. Binnington, who had allowed four goals on 15 shots, was replaced by Joel Hofer late in the second. Beauvillier added a second tally before the period ended, and Wilson scored again in the third. St. Louis' lone goal came on a short-handed strike by Alexey Toropchenko early in the third.