Alex Ovechkin led the Washington Capitals to an incredible 7-4 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night.
In his second career visit to Utah’s Delta Center, Ovechkin scored twice on former teammate Vitek Vanecek and once into an empty net to notch his 34th career hat trick. The goals were Ovechkin’s 924th, 925th, and 926th goals of his illustrious career.
Ovechkin now has two hat tricks in his age-40 season after scoring thrice against the Montreal Canadiens on November 20. At age 40 and 190 days, he is the sixth-oldest player to score a hat trick, topping his own mark from the fall. He is also only the third player in NHL history to record two hat tricks in the same season at age 40 or older, joining Johnny Bucyk (1975-76) and Gordie Howe (1968-69).
With the big night, he also passed Brett Hull for sole possession of fourth-most hat tricks in league history. The Mammoth are the 21st franchise he has recorded a hat trick against, surpassing Hull again for the most all-time.
Vanecek is the 189th different goaltender that Ovechkin has scored on, extending his record there as well. Coming into the game, Vanecek was the active goaltender with the most saves against Ovechkin without allowing a goal.
Alex Ovechkin‘s 34th career hat trick
Goal 1 (Career goal no. 924)
Ovechkin’s first goal of the game came with the Capitals down 3-1, five minutes into the second period. Martin Fehervary fed his defense partner Rasmus Sandin, who crept down into the left faceoff circle and fired a shot-pass right onto Ovechkin’s tape. Ovechkin guided the puck past Vanecek for his team-leading 27th goal of the campaign.
Goal 2 (Career goal no. 925)
Ovechkin’s second goal was the culmination of the Capitals hemming the Mammoth in their own zone for multiple shifts. After jumping over the boards, Ovechkin set up at the point and received a pass from Dylan Strome. He then fired a wrister into the top corner past a screened Vanecek.
Goal 3 (Career goal no. 926)
The hat trick goal came during Ovechkin’s second shift with the Mammoth up a man after pulling their netminder. He slipped behind all of the players on the ice and slid an easy one into the yawning cage from near center ice.
Ovechkin had a very busy night overall, scoring his three goals on five total shots in 18:27 of ice time. He also registered 11 shot attempts, five individual scoring chances, four individual high-danger chances, and one hit.
“O gets going in the second period, scores a couple big goals for us,” head coach Spencer Carbery said postgame. “Obviously, just amazing what he does tonight for our group.”
“It’s so cool to be a part of it,” forward Anthony Beauvillier added. “Now that we’re in it, we don’t really appreciate it as much, but in 10-20 years down the line, we’re gonna remember that as being pretty special, having a chance to play with a guy like that. He’s writing history every night, it feels like. He stepped up big time for us tonight and got some big goals for us.”
Ovechkin now has five goals on the road in Utah in two games, with Thursday’s visit being his first back to the Delta Center since he broke his leg in the building last year.
“I guess [I like playing here],” Ovechkin said. “Good thing I didn’t get hurt.”
The hat trick could be the last of Ovechkin’s storied career, as just nine games are remaining for the Capitals this season, and he has not committed to extending his contract.
All of Alex Ovechkin‘s hat tricks
| No. | Date | Opp | Goals | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 13, 2006 | @ | ANA | 3 | 3-2 |
| 2 | December 15, 2006 | @ | ATL | 3 | 3-2 |
| 3 | December 29, 2007 | @ | OTT | 4 | 8-6 |
| 4 | January 31, 2008 | MTL | 4 | 5-4 | |
| 5 | March 3, 2008 | BOS | 3 | 10-2 | |
| 6 | November 26, 2008 | ATL | 3 | 5-3 | |
| 7 | February 1, 2009 | OTT | 3 | 7-4 | |
| 8 | February 15, 2009 | @ | FLA | 3 | 4-2 |
| 9 | February 7, 2010 | PIT | 3 | 5-4 | |
| 10 | January 22, 2011 | @ | TOR | 3 | 4-1 |
| 11 | February 23, 2013 | NJD | 3 | 5-1 | |
| 12 | April 6, 2013 | @ | FLA | 3 | 4-3 |
| 13 | December 10, 2013 | TBL | 4 | 6-5 | |
| 14 | February 11, 2016 | @ | MIN | 3 | 4-3 |
| 15 | April 9, 2016 | @ | STL | 3 | 5-1 |
| 16 | November 23, 2016 | STL | 3 | 4-3 | |
| 17 | March 28, 2017 | @ | MIN | 3 | 5-4 |
| 18 | October 5, 2017 | @ | OTT | 3 | 5-4 |
| 19 | October 7, 2017 | MTL | 4 | 6-1 | |
| 20 | November 25, 2017 | @ | TOR | 3 | 4-2 |
| 21 | December 11, 2018 | DET | 3 | 6-2 | |
| 22 | December 14, 2018 | @ | CAR | 3 | 6-5 |
| 23 | January 22, 2019 | SJS | 3 | 6-7 | |
| 24 | November 30, 2019 | @ | DET | 3 | 5-2 |
| 25 | January 16, 2020 | NJD | 3 | 5-2 | |
| 26 | January 18, 2020 | @ | NYI | 3 | 6-4 |
| 27 | February 4, 2020 | LAK | 3 | 4-2 | |
| 28 | November 26, 2021 | FLA | 3 | 4-3 | |
| 29 | December 13, 2022 | @ | CHI | 3 | 7-3 |
| 30 | December 31, 2022 | MTL | 3 | 9-2 | |
| 31 | November 17, 2024 | @ | VGK | 3 | 5-2 |
| 32 | February 23, 2025 | EDM | 3 | 7-3 | |
| 33 | November 20, 2025 | @ | MTL | 3 | 8-4 |
| 34 | March 26, 2026 | @ | UTA | 3 | 7-4 |
