The Washington Capitals are starting to heat up in the Metropolitan Division and they won their 11th of the past 16 games, 4-1, over the San Jose Sharks Monday night.
Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves to pick up the win.
Alex Ovechkin scored on a breakaway for his 578th career NHL goal.
“I was surprised,” said Ovechkin, whose 20 goals lead the NHL. “I don’t have a good backhand, but it goes in. I try to do it again in the third period, but I don’t have that skill. One worked. I’ll take it.”
Ovechkin scored on the backhand and had a second break in the third period but missed.
“When Ovi is skating like he was skating tonight, he’s a force,” Caps head coach Barry Trotz said. “That you can pass some great players in this league in terms of production and to do it with a difference of 700 games, that just blows my mind. I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
Devante Smith-Pelly, Brett Connolly and Jakub Vrana also scored for the Caps.
The Caps’ current run has improved them their record to 16-11-1.
Timo Meier had the lone strike for the Sharks who cut the Caps lad to 2-1.
San Jose dropped to 14-10-2 with the loss.
[WATCH: All Sharks vs. Capitals highlights]
Martin Jones took the loss on 25 saves.
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