National Sports

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 887th career goal Saturday to move within eight of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record and the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1.

LANGLEY, B.C. — Markus Loponen's power-play goal at 4:33 of the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted the visiting Victoria Royals to a 4-3 Western Hockey League victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday at Langley Events Centre.

TORONTO — Claude Giroux scored the winner on a second-period power play as the Ottawa Senators topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to register their sixth straight victory Saturday night.

Saturday's Scoreboard NHL Vancouver 6 Chicago 2 Montreal 3 Florida 1 Ottawa 4 Toronto 2 Buffalo 4 Vegas 3 (SO) Pittsburgh 7 New Jersey 3 Washington 5 San Jose 1 Tampa Bay 6 Boston 2 Carolina 5 Philadelphia 0 N.Y.

VANCOUVER — Elias Pettersson scored and notched an assist as the Vancouver Canucks thumped the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 on Saturday.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin shook off a rough start to this three-game California swing by scoring his 887th career goal Saturday against the San Jose Sharks to move within eight of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record .

MONTREAL — Martin St. Louis watched the crowd erupt around the Bell Centre. The Montreal Canadiens head coach hoped it would be one of several special moments for his group this spring.

TORONTO — Linus Ullmark went out to play the puck midway through Saturday's second period.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Tristan Blackmon scored a goal in the 51st minute and Vancouver didn't allow a shot on goal as the Whitecaps beat FC Dallas 1-0 on Saturday night for their fourth win in a row.

OWEN SOUND, Ont. — Luke Ellinas scored at 11:26 of the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and lift the visiting Kitchener Rangers to a 3-2 Ontario Hockey League victory over the Owen Sound Attack on Saturday.