Alex Ovechkin nets milestone 500th career goal

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) follows through as he scores his 500th career goal during the second period of a NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond (30) saves the puck from going in the goal on a play by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, during the second period of a NHL hockey game in at the Verizon Center in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates just after scoring his 500th career goal during the second period of a NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The Washington Capitals swarm the ice around left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, in celebration after Ovechkin scored his 500th career NHL goal during the second period of a hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

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WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored his 500^th career goal in the second period Sunday against the Ottawa Senators. He becomes the fifth-fastest player in NHL history to reach the plateau, and the 43^rd overall.

Ovechkin has led the league in scoring five times, including each of the past three seasons. He netted a career-best 65 goals in 2007-08 and has scored 50 or more six times.

This marks the second milestone scoring record for Ovechkin, who became the highest-scoring Russian NHL player in history earlier this season, passing Sergei Federov.

The Washington Capitals are the first team to 30 wins in the NHL this season and lead the Eastern Conference with 67 points.