Ovechkin's Hat Trick puts Him 13 Away from Breaking Gretzky's Career Goals Record
Alex Ovechkin fired a perfect wrist shot past Calvin Pickard for his first goal of the game, scored from his office on the power play for his second and sailed a shot into an empty net from his own zone to complete the hat trick. Scoring three goals in the Washington Capitals’ 7-3 rout of the Edmonton Oilers put Ovechkin 13 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career record of 894, which had seemed unapproachable earlier in the season. Even after missing 16 games due to a broken leg, the 39-year-old is on pace to pass Gretzky this spring.
- The remarkable consistency and longevity of Ovechkin's scoring prowess raises questions about the sustainability of his record-breaking performance as he enters his 20th NHL season.
- How will Ovechkin's continued pursuit of Gretzky's record impact the narrative surrounding aging players in professional sports, where peak years are often followed by decline?