WASHINGTON — In a stellar performance, Alex Ovechkin unleashed a brilliant wrist shot past goalie Calvin Pickard for his first goal, followed by another power play goal that showcased his signature scoring ability. He capped off his hat trick with a long-range shot into an empty net from his own zone.
“I had several opportunities to score even more,” Ovechkin remarked. “But I’m satisfied with three.” Scoring three times in the Washington Capitals’ emphatic 7-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers puts Ovechkin just 13 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894. This feat has seemed elusive for some time, but at 39, even after facing a broken leg that sidelined him for 16 games, he remains on a trajectory to surpass Gretzky later this season.
“He continuously impresses me,” said Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren. “He is truly the best player out there.” Fellow forward Dylan Strome, who has assisted on 16 of Ovechkin’s 29 goals this season, noted that achieving the record within the next couple of months could be challenging. Ovechkin responded to the possibility of netting 13 goals in the remaining 25 games with a level-headed approach, taking it “game by game.”
If his performance against the Oilers is any indication, it seems more a question of when, not if, Ovechkin will reach 895 goals and beyond. “I’ve never seen anyone so eager to score,” remarked long-time teammate Tom Wilson. “Some players might celebrate after scoring a goal and feel content. Ovi returns to the bench and is asking about going back out immediately. It’s exhilarating; witnessing his achievements has been quite a journey.”
On the opposing side, veteran Corey Perry expressed dismay at how easily Ovechkin was able to find space to shoot. “When you give the world’s best goal scorer that amount of time, he’s guaranteed to find the back of the net,” Perry noted.
Ovechkin scored twice within 10 minutes during the second period and nearly found the net again in the third, compiling eight shots on goal against Pickard and four more that missed. The crowd of 18,573 erupted in cheers, chanting “Ovi! Ovi!” as hats were thrown onto the ice following his empty-net goal. Ovechkin admitted to being slightly surprised when Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch decided to pull Pickard for an extra attacker while down by three goals, but it ultimately worked in the Capitals’ favor when Ovechkin capitalized from a distance of 139 feet.
“They have a top-notch team with elite players, and the crowd of 17,000 was hoping for the pull,” explained Strome. “We welcome that opportunity, and of course, Ovi benefited from some good fortune. When you have 882 goals, you tend to find those lucky bounces.”
With this outing, Ovechkin matched Jaromir Jagr’s record with 135 game-winning goals, and this hat trick, the 32nd of his 20-season NHL career, ties him for fifth on the all-time list with Phil Esposito. The next hat trick will mark his 30th career hat trick, a milestone he has managed to achieve in 18 different seasons.
“At 39, the story of what he’s accomplishing right now cannot be fully captured in words,” commented Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. “The goals he’s scoring are incredible; he could have easily had six tonight.”
Lindgren expressed his gratitude for not having to face Ovechkin on the ice, stressing that playing alongside him for more than two seasons has spared him from being one of the 181 goaltenders on whom Ovechkin has scored. He empathizes with Pickard, recognizing the challenges of stopping Ovechkin’s powerful shots, and shares a deep appreciation for Ovechkin’s incredible talent and pursuit of hockey history. “It’s honestly unbelievable,” Lindgren said. “He finds so many ways to score. He’s the best in the game.”
