Alex Ovechkin scores his 800th NHL goal to complete his hat trick against Chicago

Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin scored the 800th goal of his illustrious National Hockey League career to complete a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Ovechkin, 37, scored goals Nos. 798 and 799 in the first period at United Center on Tuesday before scoring goals No. 800 at 6:34 of the third period. He scored all three goals against Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek.

Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha picked up the assists on the scoring goal. Ovechkin became the third player in NHL history to score 800 career goals, joining Wayne Gretzky (892) and Gordie Howe (801).

Ovechkin also hit the 20-goal plateau this season with his third goal of the game. The 6’3″ winger has now scored at least 20 goals in each of his first 18 NHL seasons.

Ovechkin’s first goal on Tuesday gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead after just 24 seconds of play. With the goal, he broken Jaromir Jagr’s record (135) for most game-opening goals in NHL history.

Under contract with the Capitals through the end of the 2025-26 season, Ovechkin is just 92 goals away from equaling Gretzky’s all-time NHL record.

Ovechkin has scored at least 30 goals in all but one of his NHL seasons, with the sole exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign. The 2004 first-round pick had nine 50-goal seasons and won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.

The Capitals currently lead the Blackhawks 6-2 late in the third period of Tuesday’s game. Ovechkin had four points on the night and 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 31 games this season.

In 1,305 NHL games with Washington since the start of the 2005–06 season, Ovechkin has scored 800 goals and 1,444 points. He added 72 goals and 141 points in 147 career playoff games.