Capitals' Ovechkin scores 400th goal

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals became the 89th player in NHL history to reach the 400-goal mark when he scored at 19:35 of the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.

Ovechkin scored into an empty net to seal a 4-2 win for the Capitals.

"I didn't feel like I would be in this position when I started playing in the NHL," he said. "Of course I wanted to be, but thanks goes to my coaches and [teammates]. Without them, I can't reach those numbers."

Ovechkin's 400th goal came in his 634th regular-season game; he is the sixth-fastest player to reach the milestone. The only players to get to 400 goals faster are Wayne Gretzky (436), Mike Bossy (506), Mario Lemieux (508), Brett Hull (520) and Jari Kurri (608). Ovechkin scored No. 400 one game faster than fellow Russian and Hall of Famer Pavel Bure, who did it in 635 games.

"There's really only one guy I played with or saw that had some of the skills he does, and that was Brett Hull, in terms of shooting from anywhere and being able to score from anywhere," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "But he adds a dimension with his physicality. He's a huge man out there and opponents have to be so leery of him."

Ovechkin is one of seven active players with 400 or more goals. He joins the New Jersey Devils' Jaromir Jagr (693), the Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne (679), the Boston Bruins' Jarome Iginla (538), Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks (448), the Detroit Red Wings' Daniel Alfredsson (435) and Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks (420).

The milestone goal was Ovechkin's League-leading 29th of the season and his third consecutive game with a goal.