Ovechkin, who is 21 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record (894), received a pass from Rasmus Sandin on a 2-on-1 and beat Leevi Merilainen’s blocker with a snap shot from the top of the left circle .
Logan Thompson made 25 saves to earn his second straight shutout for the Capitals (30-10-5), who are 6-0-3 in their last nine games.
Merilainen, also seeking his second straight shutout, made 27 saves for the Senators (22-18-4), who are 3-0-1 in their last four games.
Merilainen kept the game scoreless at 4:21 of the third period when he stopped a point-blank one-timer from Ovechkin on the power play. He then extended with his right pad to rob Andrew Mangiapane at the left post at 5:49.
Ottawa was 0-for-3 on the power play. Washington was 0-for-1.
