Alex Ovechkin scores 800 goals with a hat-trick

Ovechkin scored on his first two shots and beat Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek with 24 seconds into the game before stuffing one home with a power play with 11:46 left in the first period. The 37-year-old winger then hit Murazek his ball in 6:34 in his third and completed his trick in his 29th hat of his career. Washington went on to win 7-3.

The rest of the Capitals poured onto the ice to celebrate after the historic goal, as the United Center crowd put on their hats and shouted, “Ovi! Ovi!”

Ovechkin became the second player in history to move within one goal of Gordy Howe. Wayne Gretzky has a record of 894 goals.

Ovechkin has scored seven goals in his last four games and is a team-high 20 goals this season. His four goals so far have all been in his net empty.

The Capitals will play seven of their next nine games at home.

Ovechkin has been virtually one of the most dangerous scorers in the NHL since scoring two goals in his debut against Washington on October 5, 2005 against Columbus.

A 12-time All-Star, he has scored over 50 goals in nine seasons, including a career-high 65 goals in 2007-08. Stanley in 2018 won his MVP award three times in his Cup, and last season he tallied 50 goals and 40 assists in 77 games.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl When https://twitter.com/AP_Sports