Alex Ovechkin scored three times to become the third NHL player with 800 career goals, and the streaking Washington Capitals beat the lowly Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Ovechkin moved within one goal of Howe for second all-time. Gretzky has the record with 894 goals, but the 37-year-old Ovechkin is showing no signs of slowing down.

Mantha, Nic Dowd, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Dmitry Orlov also scored for Washington. Conor Sheary had two assists, and Charlie Lindgren made 26 stops.

The Capitals went 6-2-1 during a nine-game stretch that included only one home date. They play seven of their next nine at home, beginning Thursday night against Dallas.

Chicago dropped to 1-11-1 in its last 13 games. It has scored just four goals during a four-game slide.

Ovechkin scored on his first two shots, beating Petr Mrazek 24 seconds into the game before stuffing one home on a power play with 11:46 left in the first period. The winger then completed his 29th career hat trick when he knocked Mantha's pass over a sprawled Mrazek 6:34 into the third.

Toews, Max Domi and Tyler Johnson scored for Chicago, and Mrazek finished with 23 saves.

It was Johnson's first game since Oct. 25. He had been sidelined by a right ankle injury.

The Blackhawks host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.