Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas scored 36 seconds apart early in the third period, fueling the host Washington Capitals to a 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Washington captain Alex Ovechkin scored his third goal in two games to boost his career tally to 858. Ovechkin, who also had two assists, is 37 goals shy of passing Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history.

Tom Wilson and Protas each collected a goal and an assist for the Capitals, and Brandon Duhaime and Jakub Vrana tallied 54 seconds apart in the second period.

Dylan Strome and Trevor van Riemsdyk each had two assists and Charlie Lindgren made 13 saves to send the Capitals to their seventh win in their past eight games overall and their fifth straight victory at home.

Montreal’s Cole Caufield scored in his fourth consecutive game to boost his team-leading goal total to 10 on the season.

Captain Nick Suzuki logged a goal and an assist, Brendan Gallagher also tallied, Lane Hutson had two assists and Cayden Primeau turned aside 28 shots for the Canadiens, who have lost six of their last eight games (2-5-1).

McMichael backhanded a loose puck from the right doorstep past Primeau to give Washington a 4-3 lead at 4:21 of the third period. McMichael’s goal was his fifth of the season.

Protas doubled the advantage after he deflected the puck off the stick of Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble and into the net for his third goal of the season.

Ovechkin converted along the goal line to cap the scoring with 7:33 remaining in the third period.

Ovechkin’s sharp pass from above the left circle was deflected home by Wilson in the slot to open the scoring at 3:21 of the second period. The goal was Wilson’s team-leading sixth of the season.

Caufield responded 6 1/2 minutes later, skating into the offensive zone and wiring a sharp shot from the right circle that handcuffed Lindgren.

Gallagher gave Montreal a 2-1 lead just 39 seconds later, deflecting Hutson’s blast from above the circles past Lindgren.

Duhaime’s deflection from in front beat a screened Primeau at 11:45 of the second, and Vrana converted a centering feed from in front just 54 seconds later to stake Washington to a 3-2 lead.

Suzuki’s shot from the left-wing boards beat a screened Lindgren to tie the game at 3-3 with two minutes remaining in the middle period.