In the third period of a Thursday night battle between the Washington Capitals and the Ottawa Senators, future NHL Hall of Famer inched closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. “Alex Ovechkin scored on the PP and is now 19 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record,

The Senators scored in the knick of time to pick up a 5-4 victory over Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in front of a sellout crowd of 18,792 on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Thomas Chabot scored in alone with 3:14 left in overtime to secure a big two points in the Eastern Conference playoff race for the Senators.

Facing the NHL’s top team, the Senators blew a 4-2 lead in the third period but kept their composure and defeated the Washington Capitals 5-4 in overtime. On his 28th birthday, Thomas Chabot scored the game-winner for the Sens, who earned their third consecutive victory to hold steady among the Atlantic's big three.

How many career goals does Alex Ovechkin have? Ovechkin has 876 career goals. How many goals does Alex Ovechkin need to pass Wayne Gretzky? Ovechkin needs 19 goals to break Gretzk

One thing to watch: It’s been an awakening for The Great 8, 39-year-old Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, who has 22 goals in 34 games (he scored 31 all of last season). With 875 career goals, he’s now just 19 behind the NHL all-time record set by Wayne Gretzky.

Thomas Chabot scored at 1:46 of overtime and the Ottawa Senators beat the visiting Washington Capitals 5-4 on Thursday night after surrendering a two-goal third-period lead.

However, Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome didn't like that storyline, and refused to let their team leave empty-handed. The two led a furious rally in the third period to force overtime, but ultimately, a lack of discipline and a rough go-of-it led to a 5-4 loss.

Thomas Chabot has spent eight of his birthdays with the Ottawa Senators but this one was the best by far. Chabot, who turned 28 on Thursday night, scored in overtime to lead Ottawa past the league-leading Washington Capitals 5-4.

A busy NHL schedule Thursday turned up to be a real mixed bag for the New York Rangers and the Eastern Conference playoff race. When the dust settled, the Rangers dropped to 13th in the East, passed by the Islanders who won their sixth straight game.

Alex Ovechkin moved within 19 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record, scoring on a late power play in the Washington Capitals' 5-4 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

The Great Eight is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record of 894, which Gretzky reached on March 29, 1999, against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin began this season with 853 career goals.