Caps' Mike Green ties scoring record

Washington defenseman Mike Green tied an NHL record Wednesday night by scoring a goal in his seventh consecutive game.

Green beat New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist at 10:32 of the second period, putting the Capitals ahead 3-2. He matched the NHL mark for longest goal-scoring streak by a defenseman, set by Boston's Mike O'Connell during the 1983-84 season, when he finished with 18 goals. Green was the first defenseman to score goals in six consecutive games since Boston's Ray Bourque did it, also in 1983-84.

He added another goal later in the period to tie the game at 4-4, but the Capitals lost the game 5-4 in a shootout.

Green has scored two goals in back-to-back games and has six consecutive multipoint performances -- a feat accomplished by only three other defensemen: Paul Coffey, Bourque and Bobby Orr.

He can break the record with a goal in the Caps' next game, at Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Green leads all NHL defensemen in goals (21) and points (49) in just 42 games -- he missed 13 with injuries -- after leading the NHL last season with 18 goals in 82 games. He recently was named the NHL's Third Star for the second week in a row.

He has 9 goals and 7 assists during the seven-game span and is 10-13-23 in his last 13 games. His 21 goals are the most by a Washington defenseman since Sergei Gonchar had 26 in 2001-02.

"Things just seem to be rolling lately," Green said after the game. "It feels pretty special. I honestly didn't even realize (the record) until yesterday. I tried not to think about it before the game, but I'm pretty happy right now."

Material from wire services and team Web sites was used in this report