CHICAGO — When it was over, when No. 800 was safely tucked away and Washington’s fifth straight win was full, Alex Ovechkin jumped on the ice one final time for an additional spherical of cheers.
Gordie Howe is subsequent, and Wayne Gretzky is arising in a short time.
Ovechkin scored 3 times to turn into the third NHL participant with 800 profession targets, and the streaking Capitals beat the lowly Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 on Tuesday evening.
“It’s an enormous quantity,” Ovechkin stated. “It’s the perfect firm (you may) ever think about because you began enjoying hockey.”
Ovechkin moved inside one aim of Howe for second all-time. Gretzky has the file with 894 targets, however the 37-year-old Ovechkin is displaying no indicators of slowing down.
“I believe as soon as he’s going to be No. 1 he can have a way of aid,” stated Anthony Mantha, who had the first help on Ovechkin’s 800th aim. “Till then, I believe he’s on the hunt, and that’s what we love about him.”
Mantha, Nic Dowd, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Dmitry Orlov additionally scored for Washington. Conor Sheary had two assists, and Charlie Lindgren made 26 stops.
The Capitals went 6-2-1 throughout a nine-game stretch that included just one residence date. They play seven of their subsequent 9 at residence, starting Thursday evening in opposition to Dallas.
“Now we simply should have a robust push earlier than Christmas after which get the three days off,” ahead Evgeny Kuznetsov stated.
Chicago dropped to 1-11-1 in its final 13 video games. It has scored simply 4 targets throughout a four-game slide.
“I assumed we battled again, but it surely’s Ovechkin,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson stated. “There have been a few unlucky bounces, and he makes you pay on these.”
Ovechkin scored on his first two photographs, beating Petr Mrazek 24 seconds into the sport earlier than stuffing one residence on an influence play with 11:46 left within the first interval. The winger then accomplished his twenty ninth profession hat trick when he knocked Mantha’s move over a sprawled Mrazek 6:34 into the third.
The remainder of the Capitals jumped off the bench to have fun after the milestone aim, and hats rained down on the ice from the gang of 16,181 on the United Heart. Followers then chanted “Ovi! Ovi!” — drawing a wave from Ovechkin.
“The followers right here in Chicago have been terrific, the way in which that they saluted him,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette stated. “For him to get a hat trick on the highway to get to 800 was only a particular evening.”
Ovechkin has seven targets in his final 4 video games and a team-high 20 on the season. His earlier 4 targets have been all empty-netters.
“It’s thoughts blowing,” Chicago captain Jonathan Toews stated. “What number of guys can rating targets at his price within the season, not to mention yr after yr after yr? He’s one among a form, for certain.”
Toews, Max Domi and Tyler Johnson scored for Chicago, and Mrazek completed with 23 saves.
It was Johnson’s first recreation since Oct. 25. He had been sidelined by a proper ankle harm.
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