Gr800: Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin Scores Hat Trick, Becomes Third Player in NHL History to Score 800 Career Goals
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He did it. He hit another incredible milestone. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 800th career goal Tuesday night in a hat trick as the team clashed with the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. The Great Eight is now the third player in NHL history to score 800 goals.
His first of the night and 18th of the season came just twenty-four seconds in, marking goal No. 798 to give the Capitals an early 1-0 lead. Defenseman John Carlson and left-wing Conor Sheary assisted.
None other than who 🐐 pic.twitter.com/jnBED6AAXz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2022
He would pot another on the man advantage, extending Washington’s lead to 2-0 at the 8:14 mark. Sheary and left-wing Sonny Milano had the assists on Ovechkin’s 799th career goal and nineteenth of the season.
This man is unbelievable pic.twitter.com/pDqeMLZFB1
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2022
The Great Eight would complete the hat trick and reach the 800-goal milestone with his twentieth goal of the season.
IT’S HISTORY, BABES! pic.twitter.com/ENTC23b2E4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2022
Ovechkin reached the 800-goal mark in his 1,305th career game, the second-fewest games required to reach the milestone in NHL history (Gretzky: 1,116 GP). Ovechkin went from 700 to 800 goals in 162 games, the fewest games required to make that leap for any member of the 800-goal club (Gretzky: 231 GP; Howe: 256 GP).
ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE THIRD PLAYER IN NHL HISTORY TO SCORE 800 CAREER GOALS#Gr800 | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/aeQaG5mePe
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2022
Ovechkin is now two goals shy of passing Howe (801) for second on the NHL’s all-time goals list. Ovechkin scored his 787th career goal on Nov. 5 versus Arizona, passing Howe (786) for the most goals with one franchise in NHL history, and scored his 122nd career game-winning goal on Oct. 24 at New Jersey to pass Howe for the second-most game-winning goals.
8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣#Gr800 | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/8oXIdqOSGX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2022
Ovechkin, who has scored 20 goals in 31 games this season, recorded his 29th career hat trick against Chicago to reach the 800-goal mark, passing Marcel Dionne and Bobby Hull (28) for the sixth most hat tricks in NHL history. He is on pace to score 52 goals this season. Should Ovechkin reach the 50-goal mark, it would mark his 10th career 50-goal season, passing Gretzky and Mike Bossy (9) for the most in NHL history.
MIC’D UP FOR #Gr800? Yes, please.#ALLCAPS | @Enterprise pic.twitter.com/TKsddvNMZs
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2022
In NHL history, Ovechkin ranks first in power-play goals (292), overtime goals (25), road goals (409), game-opening goals (136), game-tying goals (140), and go-ahead goals (270), second in game-winning goals (124), empty-net goals (53) and multi-goal games (162), and fourth in even strength goals (503).
GR800. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/zgVVUM5BM4
— NHL (@NHL) December 14, 2022
The Blackhawks honored Ovechkin’s milestone tally this evening:
Classy move by the Blackhawks, also honoring Alex Ovechkin’s milestone tally. pic.twitter.com/WRF399ZwIU
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 14, 2022
Postgame comments from Ovechkin:
🔊 SOUND ON 🔊
Ovi after scoring three to bring him up to 800 career goals: “Without you guys, obviously I’ll never reach those kind of numbers.” 😍 pic.twitter.com/0ckI1AI2gO
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 14, 2022
Celebratory moments with teammates:
THE VIBES ARE #GR8, BABES pic.twitter.com/RfN3hDYOAe
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2022
Additional Ovechkin Notes in the Game
- Ovechkin’s scored his 136th career game-opening goal, passing Jaromir Jagr (135) for the most in NHL history.
- Ovechkin extends his goal streak to four games (5g).
- Per Mike Vogel, Ovechkin’s first goal of the game marked the 66th time in his NHL career that he has opened the scoring in a road game, passing Brett Hull (65) for most in league history.
- Ovechkin recorded his 14th assist of the season on the Capitals’ third goal. With two goals and an assist tonight, Ovechkin has recorded his 127th career game with three or more points.
- This is the 18th season where he has scored 20 or more goals in a season. Only five players have scored 20 or more goals more often: Gordie Howe (22), Ron Francis (20), Jaromir Jagr (19), Brendan Shanahan (19), and Dave Andreychuk (19). Only two players have had more consecutive seasons where they scored 20 or more goals: Gordie Howe (22) and Brendan Shanahan (19).
- He registered his 29th career hat trick, giving him sole possession of fifth place, breaking a tie with Marcel Dionne and Bobby Hull. Brett Hull ranks fourth place with 33.
By Della Young
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