Ovechkin sets points record for Russia-born player, Capitals top Canucks

WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkin became the leading Russia-born scorer in NHL history, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.

Ovechkin, who assisted on T.J. Oshie's first-period goal, has 1,180 points (644 goals, 536 assists) in 14 NHL seasons, one more than Sergei Fedorov (483 goals, 696 assists) had in 18 seasons. Ovechkin has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past four games.
WATCH: [All Canucks vs. Capitals highlights]

"You know, it's pretty big and I appreciate everybody who did all the work with me, my teammates, and it's huge," Ovechkin said.
Jakub Vrana had a goal and an assist, and Brett Connolly scored for Washington (29-18-6). Evgeny Kuznetsov had two assists, and Braden Holtby made 30 saves.

Markus Granlund and Elias Pettersson scored for Vancouver (24-24-6), which has lost three of four. Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves.
"We didn't play good in the first period today, but we ended the game with two good periods," Pettersson said. "It's tough when we play good, but the puck won't go in and it goes in the other way. But we've just got to continue grinding."
The Canucks were without defenseman Alexander Edler, who is expected to be out at least a week with a concussion sustained when he went face-first onto the ice in a 2-1 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

X-rays showed no facial fractures, but Edler received stitches for cuts to his face. He returned to Vancouver on Tuesday.
The Capitals took a 1-0 lead at 3:00 of the first period. Ovechkin skated behind the net and passed in front to Nicklas Backstrom, whose shot was stopped by Markstrom. Oshie scored on the rebound for his 16th goal of the season.
"I said someone's going to set the tone for us and seems like every time I've brought that up, he seems to step right to the forefront," Capitals coach Todd Reirden said of Oshie, who has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past six games.
After being outshot 18-5 in the first period, Vancouver outshot Washington 13-4 in the second period but did not score. Holtby made a pad save on Bo Horvat's penalty shot at 12:53 of the period after Jonas Siegenthaler hooked him on a breakaway.
"When we did break down or make mistakes, [Holtby] was able to make great saves for us," Reirden said, "and the penalty shot is a huge, huge turning point in that game."

Connolly made it 2-0 at 5:47 of the third period when he knocked in a loose puck for his first goal in 14 games.
Granlund pulled Vancouver within 2-1 when he redirected Antoine Roussel's centering pass at 8:02.
Vrana's shot from behind the net went over it and deflected in off Markstrom to make it 3-1 at 12:13.
"Their guy went from my left to my right behind the net and right when I switched sides there was no puck there and guys were swinging their sticks on top of my head," Markstrom said. "Then I felt something on my back, and I tried to turn my body and get the glove there to kind of bank it out but it was going in the net."
Pettersson scored with 7.6 seconds remaining and Markstrom pulled for the extra attacker, making it 3-2.

They said it

"The way we came back and responded in the second period is the way we have to play. And that's the way have to start [the game]." -- Canucks forward Jay Beagle
"That seems to be the theme here lately, is getting leads and then letting teams back in. We've got to find a way to start putting teams away and start playing like a championship team." -- Capitals forward T.J. Oshie

Need to know

Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, who injured his knee in warmups on Monday, went to Vancouver for an MRI. … Beagle, who spent the past 10 seasons with Washington, received a video tribute and standing ovation during a stoppage in the first period. … Holtby has denied four of six shooters on penalty shots in his NHL career. … Capitals forward Lars Eller returned after missing one game because of a lower-body injury.

What's next

Canucks: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, SNP, NHLTV)
Capitals:Host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+ NBCSWA, ALT, NHL.TV)