Alex Ovechkin could have served his one-game suspension for skipping out on next weekend’s All-Star Game. Instead, he opted to wait until the break to serve it, and that turned out to be a great decision for him and the Washington Capitals.
The Capitals’ captain registered his second straight hat trick in Saturday’s 6-4 win over Metro division rival, the New York Islanders. Ovechkin’s huge day lifted him from 11th all-time in the NHL in goals to a tie with Steve Yzerman for ninth.
Ovechkin’s first goal of the game gave him 690 goals in his NHL career, tying him with former Pittsburgh Penguins great Mario Lemieux. The goal gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead in the first.
However, the Islanders stormed back with four unanswered goals to take a commanding 4-1 lead in the second. Yet, the Capitals were not to be outdone, scoring five goals in the final period including two for Ovechkin.
Ovechkin’s second of the day came 5:18 into the third period, cutting Washington’s deficit to 4-3.
Then after Tom Wilson tied the game and Jakub Vrana got the game-winner, Ovechkin deposited an empty netter in the final minute for his 26th career hat trick and goal No. 692 all-time.
Ovechkin has now scored eight goals in his last three games. He is now tied for eight all-time in NHL history for hat trick.
He is now three away from passing Mark Messier for eighth. And he is 74 away from Jaromir Jagr for third.
