Alex Ovechkin had a legendary game Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils.
After taking a high stick to the face from Miles Wood that went undetected by officials, Ovi was quick to come back and he scored a hat trick. Sweet, sweet revenge. But Ovechkin’s second goal of the night is the one that made some history.
He is the second player in NHL history to score 30+ goals in each of his first 15 seasons. The only other player in NHL history? Former Capitals forward Mike Gartner. The only other NHL player that was kinda close to being a part of this exclusive crew was Jaromir Jagr. He also had 15 consecutive 30-goal seasons, but that streak started in his second season.
Another 30-goal season for @ovi8!
He is the second player in NHL history to score 30+ goals in each of his first 15 seasons, joining longtime @Capitals forward Mike Gartner (1979-80 – 1993-94). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/m6G4mKESnC
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 17, 2020
Here’s the other history Ovechkin accomplished in the game.
Ovechkin's third goal of the night marked his 689th career goal and he is now two goals shy of passing Mario Lemieux (690) for 10th on the NHL's all-time goals list.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 17, 2020
Alex Ovechkin scores his third goal of the game to complete his 25th career hat trick, tying Cy Denneny for ninth on the NHL’s all-time hat trick list. It marks Ovechkin’s second hat trick of the season, his fourth straight season with at least two hat tricks.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 17, 2020
The pair he's had also move him past Marcel Dionne for the 6th most career multi-goal games (140) behind only Wayne Gretzky (189), Brett Hull (158), Mario Lemieux (154), Gordie Howe (147) & Phil Esposito (143) https://t.co/xIqecPGNoZ
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) January 17, 2020
Most goals in NHL history by a Russian
Alex Ovechkin: 688
Sergei Fedorov: 483
Alexander Mogilny: 473
Ilya Kovalchuk: 438
Pavel Bure: 437— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 17, 2020
Alex Ovechkin scored against both goaltenders tonight (Louis Domingue and COry Schneider). That's the 10th time in his career he's accomplished the feat, but the second time in just his last five games (Jan. 7 vs. Ottawa: Craig Anderson and Marcus Hogberg).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 17, 2020
He's one of 16 players in NHL history to do this 10 times.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 17, 2020
Wow. Being a hockey fan during the era of Alex Ovechkin is pretty dang special.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Devils
Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington
