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It’s back-to-back hat tricks for Alex Ovechkin, so that’s a nice start

By Peter Hassett

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October 7, 2017 8:11 pm

The Washington Capitals got some tasty, tasty homecooking on their debut at the rechristened Capital One Arena. The Caps struck thrice in the first 2:31, then Alex Ovechkin wrapped up yet another hat trick before the first period ended.

Yeah. It’s back-to-back hat tricks for Ovi to start the season. He has tied Peter Bondra for the franchise record.

It begins chaotically. Ovechkin spins and chops, blindly I might add, at a bobbling puck. The puck has eyes and finds the top corner of the net behind Montreal goalie Carey Price.

TJ Oshie follows up soon after, taking a puck from Andre Burakovsky and putting it on net. The angle is narrow, but the rebound is lively, so Oshie pounces on it. His second stab gets behind Price’s skate.

After a strong shift by the Jay Beagle’s fourth line, the Capitals take to the power play, just their second of the season. You know where Ovi is, right? He’s on the Ovi spot, and after a cross-ice pass and a quick hold, the puck is in the back of the net again.

That’s three goals in 151 seconds, and the Canadiens are reeling. Montreal keeps their $85-million man in net, and Washington keeps pushing. With a little under two minutes remaining in the period, Ovechkin gets a tip-in on Evgeny Kuznetsov’s shot to make it 4-0 and secure his second hat trick of the season, the 19th in his career, tying the franchise record.

It comes less than 48 hours after his 18th. Evgeny Kuznesov has assists on all six goals. NBC Sports Washington reports that no one has opened a season with back-to-back hat tricks in a century. A CENTURY.

Former teammate Michael Latta and current suspendee Tom Wilson congratulated Ovi.

So Alex Ovechkin has six goals, and he’s just 25 minutes of hockey so far. The Caps are here to score. Sorry, SCOAR.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Canadiens

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