Ovechkin kicked off 2023 with a display that felt like a fireworks show, piling up goals in a game where the Montreal Canadiens were downed 9-2. The Washington Capitals captain delivered a hat-trick that set the tone early and kept the crowd buzzing long after the final horn.
The opening chapter of the night’s scoring unfolded in the second period. Ovechkin, assisted by Lars Eller and Trevor van Riemsdyk in a rapid, three-man sequence, pierced Montreal’s defense with ease. The move culminated in a deft finish from the Russian veteran, who waited on the doorstep as a precise pass found him and a deft touch sent the puck home for a neat goal in the course of a fast, coordinated attack.
As the game moved to the third period, Ovechkin asserted his influence again, turning a comfortable catch in the offensive zone into a flurry of points. He found most of his goals from the area often referred to as his office—a clever strike from the left corner near the starting circle that proved difficult for the goalie to square up. A rebound off the post spun wide, and the puck bounced over the line in a moment that displayed his timing and poise under pressure.
Near the three-minute mark of the final frame, the captain capped the performance in emphatic fashion. It began with a sweeping move along the left flank, shedding a defender with a shoulder feint, slipping the puck into space near the crease, and tucking the shot past the goalkeeper at close range for a commanding 9-2 margin. The sequence was a testament to Ovechkin’s continued ability to create chances in tight spaces and convert when it mattered most.
What stood out in the locker room after the game was the unanimous recognition of Ovechkin as the standout performer. The room reflected a mix of admiration and celebration as teammates presented him with a symbolic trophy—an unusually thick firefighter’s rope that has become a team talisman this season. The ritual also included a test of grip strength on a hand dynamometer, another Caps tradition meant to emphasize power and endurance in the wear-and-tear of a long season.
With this hat-trick, Ovechkin moved a significant step closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record of 894. His current total stood at 806, meaning 88 more goals would still be needed to tie the legendary mark, a target many believed could be reached within a few seasons given his longevity and scoring touch. The milestone is a landmark not just for personal achievement but for the historical arc of the league, placing him alongside the greatest goal-scorers who shaped the modern game.
In addition to the Gretzky chase, Ovechkin matched a historic mark by tying Mike Bossy’s record for eight 50-goal seasons. Bossy had achieved the feat eight times in his career, a standard Ovechkin now matched as he added seasons with 50 or more goals in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2022. That consistency underscored the rare combination of power, accuracy, and durability that defines his career.
Beyond the 50-goal seasons, Ovechkin also reached another plateau: scoring 25 or more goals in a single season for the 17th time, a tally that places him third in NHL history for this particular measure. Only Jaromir Jagr, with 18 seasons, and Gordie Howe, with 20, have higher totals in that category. It’s a reminder of how long he has remained at peak production while producing memorable moments for fans across North America.
Moreover, the Russian forward claimed his 30th hat-trick in the NHL regular season, joining a select group of players who have achieved that feat. The lineage in this elite company includes Phil Esposito, Brett Hull, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, and Wayne Gretzky—names that carry the weight of hockey greatness and the long shadows they cast across generations of players.
With this performance, the Great Eight pushed his regular-season tally to 1313 goals, an number that signals how close he is to the Russian record for this category. The milestone belongs to Alexei Kovalev, whose mark sits at 1316. If the adage about beginnings and endings holds true, 2024 could see Ovechkin closing the gap even more as the pursuit of the all-time record continues to captivate fans and pundits alike.
Should one judge a season by the way a player starts it, Ovechkin’s opening night would suggest a year packed with ambition and a drive to climb the all-time ladder. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who tallied an assist on the night and delivered a helper hat-trick, looked well positioned to contribute to a similar wave of achievements, hinting at a broader momentum for Washington as the calendar turns.
During the second period, Eric Gustafsson opened the scoring by feeding a pass to Rus, who found the net in his fifth consecutive game. In the third period, Kuznetsov facilitated two more goals for Dylan Strome and Markus Johansson, illustrating how the team’s depth allowed multiple players to contribute to the night’s high goal tally and reinforcing the sense that Washington was firing on all cylinders.