For a moment there Tuesday night at the United Center, it looked like Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin might score three goals to reach the 800 club — in the first period.
In fact, it would take three periods.
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“The Great 8″ notched his 29th career hat trick — and first against the Chicago Blackhawks — to reach 800 career goals 6 minutes, 34 seconds into the third period. He was saluted with hats tossed on the ice, chants of “Ovie, Ovie” and a standing ovation during the Capitals’ 7-3 win.
Only Gordie Howe (801) and Wayne Gretzky (894) stand ahead of him.
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Not that he needed further mythical feats to cement his place among the all-time greats, but Ovechkin all but announced he was going to reach the milestone in heroic fashion with a stunning opening goal 24 seconds into the game.
John Carlson’s pass to Ovechkin bounced in the air off Ovechkin’s stick, and as Jonathan Toews tried to settle the puck, Ovechkin swiped it and shot around Toews and past Hawks goaltender Petr Mrázek.
Before Ovechkin’s second goal 7:50 later, Mrázek creeped above the crease to defend Conor Sheary, making it easy pickings for Ovechkin to tap in Sheary’s down-low pass.
On the hat trick, it was as if the heavens opened.
After the puck bounced off Mrázek, the Hawks goalie dived in a futile attempt to cover but was too late.
Anthony Mantha found Ovechkin looking at a wide-open net with Mrázek sprawled in front, and Ovechkin buried it for the record books.
