Ovechkin’s Hat Trick Leads Capitals to Victory
In a thrilling encounter in Montreal, Alex Ovechkin showcased his remarkable scoring prowess, achieving his 33rd career hat trick while also dishing out an assist. His performance was key in leading the Washington Capitals to a commanding 8-4 victory over the struggling Montreal Canadiens, marking the Canadiens’ fifth consecutive defeat.
Milestones and Achievements
With this latest achievement, the 40-year-old Russian sniper not only reached his 10th goal of the season but also extended his NHL all-time goals tally to a stunning 907. This achievement propelled him past Joe Sakic on the all-time points leaderboard, with Ovechkin now sitting at 1,643 points, placing him 10th in NHL history. He has been in excellent form lately, finding the net in four consecutive games and in five of the last six. Importantly, he has joined an elite group as only the second player aged 40 or older to score six goals over a four-game stretch, a feat previously accomplished by Teemu Selanne in 2011, according to ESPN Research.
Game Highlights
The game kicked off with Ovechkin making his mark just one minute into the first period, scoring on a power play with a precise wrist shot that beat Canadiens’ goalie Sam Montembeault. Two minutes into the second period, he assisted on Ethen Frank’s goal, which put the Capitals ahead 2-1— a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the match.
In the final moments of the game, Ovechkin notched two more goals, including one during a fast break with just under five minutes remaining, followed by a remarkable empty-net goal shot from his own zone with 2:04 left on the clock.
Team Contributions
Frank had a notable night as well, contributing two goals and two assists, while Sonny Milano also netted a pair of goals. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun added another score, and goaltender Charlie Lindgren recorded 24 saves to secure the win for Washington. Dylan Strome was a playmaker with three assists on the night.
Recent Performance
This victory comes on the heels of a recent 7-4 home win against Edmonton, marking the Capitals’ third straight win, bringing their record to 11-8-2. Not only was this game a bounce-back opportunity, but it also represented Washington’s only road game during an extended stretch of eight games.
Montreal’s Struggles
On the other hand, Montreal’s offense was led by Brendan Gallagher, Joe Veleno, Nick Suzuki, and Mike Matheson, but it still wasn’t enough to turn the tide. Montembeault was replaced after letting in three goals on 10 shots, with Jakub Dobes stepping in and making 20 saves while allowing five goals through 25 shots faced. The Canadiens have now dropped seven of their last eight games, placing their record at 10-7-3. Notably, the Capitals eliminated the Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs in the previous season.
