WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin's mini-drought is over. The countdown to another milestone can begin again. Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season Friday night, moving to within two of 900 for his career and helping the Washington Capitals to a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Ovechkin went without a goal in the season's first four games — not a crisis but a longer dry spell than he had at any time last season, when he scored 44 times and broke Wayne Gretzky's NHL record with No. 895.

That number is up to 898 now — tracked on a counter above a corner of the ice in Washington. “Chances was there,” said the 40-year-old Ovechkin, who had 11 shots on goal through the first four games and three more Friday. “Sometimes you just have to be patient.” With the Caps up 2-1 in the third pe

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