NEW YORK — Nicklas Backstrom’s third-period, power-play goal — his fifth point of the night — gave the Capitals a 6-5 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday that extended the Capitals’ winning streak to a team-record 12 games.

Backstrom already had four assists when he got to a loose puck near the left circle and scored his 24th goal of the season to make it 6-5 at 5:34 of the third.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had two goals and an assist to reach 500 career NHL points. He is the fifth player to reach the milestone in five seasons, doing it in only 373 games. Boyd Gordon, Mike Knuble, and defenseman Tom Poti added goals for the Capitals, who haven’t lost since Jan. 12 at Tampa Bay.

New York returned home from a 1-2 Western trip, but couldn’t turn its best offensive output in eight games into a win. Vinny Prospal had two goals, and newly acquired forward Olli Jokinen, Brandon Dubinsky, and Ryan Callahan also put pucks past Jose Theodore. The Rangers lost in regulation for the seventh time in eight games.

Also on Thursday:

Senators 3

Canucks 1

OTTAWA — Jason Spezza scored his ninth goal in his last eight games to help Ottawa extend its team-record winning streak to 11 games.

Canadiens 3

Bruins 2

BOSTON — Brian Gionta beat Tuukka Rask for the only goal in a shootout and Montreal sent free-falling Boston to its ninth straight loss.

Blue Jackets 2

Stars 1

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Steve Mason had 22 saves and R.J. Umberger scored an empty-netter while sliding on his gut for Columbus in Claude Noel’s coaching debut.

Sharks 4

Blues 2

ST. LOUIS — Patrick Marleau scored his 38th goal to remain tied for the NHL lead, helping Western Conference-leading San Jose beat St. Louis.

Lightning 5

Islanders 2

TAMPA, Fla. — Martin St. Louis scored in his fifth consecutive game, and Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist for Tampa Bay.

Predators 5

Avalanche 3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Patric Hornqvist had two power-play goals and an assist, and Jason Arnott had a goal and three assists for Nashville.

Wild 4

Oilers 2

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Martin Havlat had his first two-goal game for Minnesota, and the Wild beat Edmonton for their 12th straight time at home.

Kings 6

Ducks 4

LOS ANGELES — Dustin Brown scored the go-ahead goal with 5:32 left after Los Angeles blew a three-goal lead in the third period and the Kings tied a franchise record with their eighth straight victory.