Alex Ovechkin continues to etch his name deeper into hockey history, reaching another milestone on Thursday night. With a hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens, Ovechkin propelled the Washington Capitals to an 8-4 victory and climbed into the top 10 on the NHL's all-time points list.
The 40-year-old Ovechkin showcased his enduring skill and scoring prowess, bringing his career goals total to 907. This latest achievement also allowed him to surpass Joe Sakic for 10th place in all-time points, with a total of 1,643.
Ovechkin's performance was a key factor in the Capitals' win, as they handed the Canadiens their fifth straight loss. Ethen Frank contributed two goals and two assists, while Sonny Milano also scored twice. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 24 saves to secure the victory for Washington.
Ovechkin started the game strong, scoring a power-play goal just one minute into the first period. He continued his impressive performance into the second period, notching his second goal and setting up Ethen Frank for another. Ovechkin's opening goal was his 13th scored in the first minute of a game, tying him with Mark Messier for the second-most of all time. Only Sidney Crosby has more, with 15.
With this hat trick, Ovechkin now has 33 in his NHL career. Furthermore, Ovechkin extended his goal-scoring streak to four games, tying the record for the longest streak by a player aged 40 or older. He shares this record with Jaromir Jagr and Dean Prentice, both of whom achieved it twice in their careers.
Throughout his career, Ovechkin has consistently demonstrated his offensive dominance. He has nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, awarded to the NHL's leading goal scorer, which is a league record. He also holds the NHL record for the most 40-goal seasons, with 13. Ovechkin shares the record for the most 50-goal seasons with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy, with nine each.
As Ovechkin continues his remarkable career, he has already surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most non-empty net goals in NHL history. Ovechkin's journey to the top of the NHL's all-time goals list has been marked by consistency and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
