Ovechkin scores No. 873, Capitals top Predators to push point streak to 7

NASHVILLE -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 873rd NHL goal and had an assist, and the Washington Capitals extended their point streak to seven games with a 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

Ovechkin is 22 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record (894). He scored his 20th goal of the season into an empty net at 19:01 of the third period for the 4-1 final, becoming the second player in NHL history to score at least 20 goals in 20 straight seasons (Gordie Howe, 22 seasons).

Ethen Frank broke a tie in the third period with his first NHL goal in his second career game, and Tom Wilson and Andrew Mangiapane also scored for the Capitals (28-10-5), who are 4-0-3 during their point streak. Logan Thompson made 32 saves.

“I feel like our group, when we’re in these situations, we almost like slow-play it a little bit,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “It’s like ‘come on, come on.’ And then when they can feel the finish line and we’re right there and we can win a hockey game or get it to overtime or whatever the situation, then it’s our best moments. I thought our third was by far our best period.”

Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators (13-22-7), who have lost consecutive games. Juuse Saros made 12 saves.

“Right now nothing is really going our way,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “There’s nothing we can do except wake up and go back to work. I always believe, and I guess I’m starting to question myself, I think if you get chances, sooner or later they’re going to go in.”

Frank gave Washington a 2-1 lead at 8:30 of the third on a stretch pass from Matt Roy.

“It’s pretty special with a guy that’s just earned everything,” Wilson said. “Hockey is such a great game at every level, but a guy that just stuck with it. Heck of a player, great guy, and he comes up and his work really paid off. And you see him have success last night in front of his family and then tonight his first goal, it brings you back. It’s what is so great about the game when a guy can score his first goal. It’s a dream come true.”

Mangiapane extended it to 3-1 at 14:54 on a backhand shot from the slot off a pass from Brandon Duhaime.

Wilson gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 9:03 of the second period with a power-play goal. He fanned on his first attempt on a pass from Dylan Strome, but his second shot attempt beat Saros five-hole.

“I feel like our power play is one of those where it doesn’t matter how it looks, as long as it’s productive,” Carbery said. “And that’s exactly what our power play is doing right now. Sometimes it doesn’t look great. Sometimes we’re giving up a breakaway here and there, and we’d like to clean that stuff up and the entries aren’t on point at times. But when you’re scoring one a night, that’s delivering the goods.”

Forsberg tied it 1-1 at 16:14 of the second period on a wrist shot from the right circle on the power play.

“It’s something that we can talk about all day, but at the same time we’ve got to execute,” Forsberg said. “We’ve got to find a way and put it in. Obviously, every team is going to have a good goalie so that’s not a surprise. Everybody is going to play well defensively for the most part in this league. It’s about just finishing chances.”

NOTES: Ovechkin has been the first player on his team to score 20 goals in a season 19 times in his career, which is the most among all players in NHL history. The next closest player is Howe (13 times). … Predators forward Steven Stamkos was a game-time decision after leaving a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday in the second period with an undisclosed injury. He played on the top line with Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault and had no shots on goal in 20:03 of ice time.