Ovechkin nets hat trick vs. Oilers to move within 13 of Gretzky
Alex Ovechkin gained major ground on Wayne Gretzky in the chase for the all-time goals crown Sunday.
The ageless Washington Capitals captain buried a hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers to bring his career total to 882 goals, 13 away from breaking the record. He capped off his day with an empty-netter.
"Game by game," Ovechkin said when asked if passing Gretzky with 25 contests left this season is doable. "Today, I had pretty good chances to score more, but you know, I'll take three."
The Great Eight is on pace to overtake the Great One on April 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks, according to Sportsnet Stats.
Ovechkin's first two goals were vintage. First, he burned Calvin Pickard with a wrister from the slot.
Then, Ovechkin did what he does best: a one-timer from the left circle. That tally also stood as the game-winner, which tied Jaromir Jagr for the most such goals in NHL history (135), per Capitals PR.
Ovechkin's hat trick was his second of the season and 32nd of his career, matching Phil Esposito for the fifth most in NHL history, according to the NHLPA. He's up to 29 tallies in 2024-25, good for seventh in the NHL at 39 years old.
His empty-netter was his 64th, adding to his all-time record. Ovechkin also padded his benchmark of most goalies scored on, making Pickard his 181st netminder beat.
"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."
The sniper is now the first player in NHL history to score at least 200 goals in three different decades, per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. Ovi lit the lamp 245 times in the 2000s, 437 times in the 2010s, and 200 times 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 propelled Washington to a 7-3 victory and moved the Capitals to first place in the NHL standings with 84 points.