Ovi Joins Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky in the 800 Club

Alex Ovechkin became the third player in NHL history to reach 800 career goals and he did it with the shock and awe style we expect from the Washington Capitals star.

Ovechkin registered his 29th career hat trick in a 7-3 road win against the Chicago Blackhawks to join Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801) in the 800 Club.

Even though Ovechkin was on the road, fans chanted “Ovi. Ovi. Ovi” when he netted No. 800. They hurled their hats on the ice to celebrate his third goal.

The fans understood the magnitude of the moment. “Pretty incredible milestone,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. “In some sense, when we’re out of this moment, it’s one of those things you’ll look back on. He’s one of the great players of all time.”

Ovechkin scored twice in the first period and then scored his 800th into an empty net in the third period (watch all 3 goals here).

Gretzky reached 800 goals in 1,116 games. Ovechkin scored his 800th goal in his 1,305th NHL game. Howe needed 1,748 games.

Historically, Ovechkin has scored goals in bunches. His 29 hat tricks moved him past Bobby Hull and Marcel Dionne into sixth on the NHL’s all-time list. He now has produced 20 or more goals for 18 consecutive seasons, leaving him third on that list behind Howe (22) and Brendan Shanahan (19). Ovechkin currently has seven goals in his past four games.

Ovechkin’s climb to 800 goals has included nine seasons of scoring 50 or more goals. With 20 goals in 31 games, the Russian standout is on pace for 53 goals this season.

Once he moves past Howe, the focus will be on his chase of Gretzky’s NHL goal scoring record. He needs 95 goals to break it. That mark once seemed unbreakable. But barring injury, or a drastic slip in his production, he would pass him during the 2024-25 season.

TRIVIA: What goaltender did Alex Ovechkin score his first NHL regular season goal?

🎩 Zach Hyman recorded his first NHL hat trick in 6-3 win over the Preds. The 30-year-old forward tied the game at 1-1 midway through the first before giving the Oilers their first lead of the game just six minutes later and capping off the hatty with an empty netter (watch all 3 goals here). After setting career highs last season with 27 goals and 54 points, Hyman is on pace for 36 goals and 93 points this season.

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TRIVIA ANSWER:

Pascal Leclaire of the Columbus Blue Jackets