The Capitals captain opened the scoring just 24 seconds into the game when Conor Sheary fired on goal and Chicago netminder Petr Mrazek redirected the puck. On the first rebound, Washington defender John Carlson found Ovechkin, who tucked the puck past the goalie for a precise finish.
Rus added the opening goal for the 136th time in his NHL career, setting a new league record. The previous mark belonged to the legendary Czech star Jaromir Jagr, who had 135.
Ovechkin also reached 12 first-period goals, the third-highest total in league history for a single period. Only Sidney Crosby with 14 and Mark Messier with 13 had more prolific starts.
Eight minutes later, Ovechkin struck again to make it 2-0 after a well-timed pass from Conor Sheary set up the Russian sniper for a clean finish. Washington controlled the opening exchanges as he waited patiently for the chance and converted a moment of team speed into a goal.
Chicago answered before the end of the first period to cut the deficit to 2-1, but at the start of the second period Washington extended its lead to 3-1 with Ovechkin again on the scoresheet. He blasted a shot past Mrazek as Trevor van Riemsdyk pounced on the rebound, extending the home side’s advantage.
With that, Ovechkin recorded his third point of the game, bringing his career assist total to 644. The highlight of the night arrived in the third period when the Great Eight completed a hat trick. He timed his rush perfectly, sending the puck home amid the chaotic play created by Anthony Mantha and Evgeny Kuznetsov to slip past Chicago’s defense.
Moments later, Ovechkin exuberantly shouted in celebration as he reached 800 career goals. Only Gordie Howe with 801 and Wayne Gretzky with 894 have surpassed that milestone, a fact that underscored the historical significance of the night for the Russian forward.
Players from both teams joined the ice in a spontaneous sea of hats and applause as the crowd honored the feat. Chicago fans matched the moment with equal fervor, creating a shared sense of historical significance for the arena.
Ovechkin looked to his surroundings and gave credit to the supporters afterward. He spoke of the energy among the fans during warmups and throughout the game, noting how their enthusiasm carried him toward the momentous achievement.
The on-ice celebration extended for several minutes as teammates and officials acknowledged the milestone with the crowd. The night yielded several notable records and firsts: Ovechkin’s triple against Chicago marked the 18th time a Russian has achieved three goals in a single game against the Blackhawks; he became the first player to score 800 goals for one franchise in NHL history; and he joined a select club for scoring excellence in away games, opening the scoring on the road for the 66th time and surpassing a longtime benchmark held by Brett Hull.
Additionally, Ovechkin became the third player to post 20 or more goals in 18 consecutive seasons, trailing Gordie Howe and Brendan Shanahan in that category. He also moved into sixth place on the all-time goal list with 29 road goals, tied to a short list of legends including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Brett Hull, and Phil Esposito in the higher ranks. His total between regular season and playoffs stood at 872 goals, second only to Gretzky’s 1,016 in league history.
After the game, Ovechkin noted that Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky set the benchmark for greatness in hockey. He added that it was a special evening and that he still had a couple of goals to chase Howe’s totals in the coming periods. There was little doubt that Howe’s all-time regular-season mark of 801 would face a serious challenge in the games ahead, with Gretzky’s 894 standing as the eternal ceiling for the sport.
Ovechkin currently averages about 0.60 goals per game, a pace that has endured through his career. If he maintains this scoring rate into the second half of the 2024/25 season, he could close the gap on Gretzky’s lofty totals. His contract runs through the summer of 2026, granting him ample time to pursue more milestones. Even with age creeping upward, the Big Eight continues to defy expectations, having already logged 325 goals at age 37 yet showing no sign of slowing down.
In the end, the night belonged to Ovechkin as his team rode a historic hat-trick and a cascade of records, underscoring why he remains a central figure in the NHL’s modern era. The momentum and momentum shifts breathed life into a game that will be remembered for decades to come.
Notes: The celebration after the game reflected the magnitude of the milestones reached by Ovechkin. His performance against Chicago was a reminder of the personal milestones that mark a long career in professional hockey, set against the larger history of the game.
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