Hat trick pulls Ovechkin closer to Gretzky’s NHL goals record

Washington (AFP) – Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin scored a hat trick in a 7-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday to move 13 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL all-time goals record. The 39-year-old Russian left wing notched his 880th, 881st, and 882nd career goals to edge closer to passing Canadian great Gretzky’s 894 with 25 games remaining in the regular season.

Ovechkin scored his first goal on the rush midway through the second period and added another minutes later from the left faceoff circle on the power play. He scored an empty-netter in the waning minutes to complete his 32nd career hat trick – tying Phil Esposito for fifth-most in NHL history.

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It was Ovechkin’s second hat trick this season, after he grabbed three goals at the Vegas Golden Knights on November 17. He has 29 goals in 41 games this season, which was interrupted by a broken leg suffered in a collision with Utah’s Jack McBain on November 18. Ovechkin missed 16 games before returning on December 28.

© 2024 AFP