Alex Ovechkin is now within 13 goals of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record.
The Washington Capitals superstar scored a hat trick, notching his 880th, 881st and 882nd career goals during Sunday’s 7-3 win at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
Ovechkin fired a wrister past Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard at 8:53 into the second period to extend the Capitals’ lead to 3-1.
The 39-year-old found the back of the net again at 18:39 in the period after wiring home a one-timer from Jakob Chychrun on the power play to make it 4-1.
Ovechkin added his third with an empty-netter with 2:38 remaining in the game to complete his 32nd hat trick as “Ovie! Ovie!” chants broke out at Capital One Arena.
Washington has 25 games remaining in the regular season for Ovechkin to tie or surpass Gretzky’s record of 895 career goals.
If not this year, Ovechkin is under contract with the Capitals through next season.
