Alexander Ovechkin conjured up a record-setting performance by keeping the surging Washington Capitals on course for the NHL play-offs.

The 22-year-old Russian broke the league record for goals by a left wing, scoring his 64th and 65th of the season to power the Caps to a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The win vaulted Washington into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference going into the final weekend.

The Caps also pulled into a tie with the Carolina Hurricanes for the Southeast Conference lead, Carolina holding the advantage in the battle for the automatic number three play-off seed by virtue of having more wins.

"It's a great time for us right now," Ovechkin said. "We have a great chance and we have to keep it going."

The Capitals have 92 points, one more than the number nine Philadelphia Flyers, but Philadelphia has two games left to the Caps' one.

The Boston Bruins also have 92 points with an extra game to play.

Washington finishes its regular season at home against the Florida Panthers, a team out of the play-off picture, on Saturday.

The Capitals have won six straight games, their longest winning streak in over eight years, and 10 of their last 11 as they bid to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

With his team down 1-0, Ovechkin tied the game with a goal originally credited to Viktor Kozlov but later changed.

Ovechkin then scored on the power play in the second period. Boyd Gordon and Tom Poti also got on the scoreboard.

Ovechkin's 65 goals breaks Luc Robitaille's left-wing record of 63 set in 1992-93 with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Russian has 22 for the season, tying a club record.

"He usually turns it up when the game's on the line," said team-mate Brooks Laich. "You've seen that many times. The third period is usually his best period of the hockey game and tonight was no exception."

Reuters