Ovechkin scoring another game-winning goal for the Capitals comes as no surprise to the Predators

WASHINGTON (AP) Alex Ovechkin scoring to hand the Nashville Predators another defeat and keep his Washington Capitals rolling was not surprising to the folks on the other side who have seen him a lot over the years.

You knew it was coming, said Predators coach Andrew Brunette, whose final seven seasons as a player overlapped with Ovechkin's first seven in the NHL.

"Youre on the bench and I guess Ive seen him too many times.

Ive played against him, Ive coached against him, Ive watched him and he just finds that and when its on his stick its gone.

"Thats a big-time shot from obviously arguably the greatest goal-scorer of all time.

Ovechkin is now six away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's record for the most career game-winning goals.

His 130th helped the Capitals improve to 9-3-0 this season and sent the Predators to their ninth loss in 13 games.

It (stinks) that he scored against us tonight and got the game-winner, but a guy that is still producing at this age is impressive, said Predators forward Steven Stamkos, who played his first 16 years in the league with Tampa Bay.

To keep doing it at this age is very impressive.

Ovechkin has six goals in his past five games to reach 861 for his career.

He's 34 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's career mark that for decades had seemed unapproachable.

Washington's longtime captain also became just the third player age 39 or older to score in five or more consecutive games, after Johnny Bucyk in 1974 and Brett Hull in 2003.

Hes going to go down as the guy with the most goals ever at some point here, Stamkos said.

Hes just a generational goal scorer and a guy that Ive always looked up to in terms of how he scores goals.

Its the hardest thing to do in the NHL is score and hes found a way to do it better than soon anyone ever.

Ovechkin also continued his streak of scoring every game the Capitals wear their black Screaming Eagle jersey, on this occasion the first time in this, their 50th season.

The player known as the Great Eight is now 8 for 8 in this uniform.

I dont know the stats, but I love this jersey," Ovechkin said.

"Fans love it, so its pretty cool.

Ovechkin set up Aliaksei Protas earlier in the game, too, and has eight goals and eight assists.

Im always having fun," Ovechkin said.

"But when you're winning games, when you're producing opportunities to have a chance to score goals, its always fun to play.

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