Alex Ovechkin moved significantly closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record Sunday.
The Washington Capitals captain scored a hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers, bringing his career total to 882 goals, now just 13 away from breaking Gretzky’s record. He completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal.
“Game by game,” Ovechkin said when asked if passing Gretzky with 25 games remaining this season is possible. “Today, I had pretty good chances to score more, but you know, I’ll take three.”
The 39-year-old is on pace to overtake Gretzky on April 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks, according to Sportsnet Stats.
Ovechkin’s first goal came on a wrist shot from the slot that beat Edmonton goaltender Calvin Pickard.
His second goal was a signature one-timer from the left circle. That goal stood as the game-winner, tying Jaromir Jagr for the most game-winning goals in NHL history (135), according to Capitals PR.
Sunday marked Ovechkin’s second hat trick this season and the 32nd of his career, matching Phil Esposito for fifth most in NHL history, per the NHLPA.
He now has 29 goals this season, ranking seventh in the NHL.
The empty-netter was his 64th career empty-net goal, extending his all-time record. Pickard became the 181st different goaltender Ovechkin has scored against, also an NHL record.
“Whenever he gets a goal or two, you just know,” forward Tom Wilson said. “I’ve never seen a guy so hungry. Some guys score, they (go), ‘OK, I had a good night.’ He comes back to the bench, he’s asking if he can go out again like right away. It’s pretty fun. It’s been an amazing journey watching him do what he can do.”
Ovechkin is now the first player in NHL history to score at least 200 goals in three different decades, according to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti. He scored 245 goals in the 2000s, 437 in the 2010s, and has 200 so far in the 2020s.
“I’m telling you, he amazes me night in and night out,” goalie Charlie Lindgren said of Ovechkin. “He truly is the best. I’m so thankful that he’s a Washington Capital, and to share a locker room with him, it’s been incredible.”
Ovechkin’s performance led Washington to a 7-3 victory over Edmonton, moving the Capitals to first place in the NHL standings with 84 points.
