Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin is clearly not a patient man.
After entering Tuesday night’s contest with 797 career goals, he scored two in the first, putting him just one shy of No. 800.
The Capitals are not scheduled to play again until Thursday night against the Dallas Stars, which must’ve seemed far too long for the NHL great to wait.
Therefore, in true Ovechkin fashion, he pocketed his historic goal early in the third period while simultaneously picking up his 29th-career hat trick.
Not too shabby for a 37-year-old.
Ovechkin became just the third player in NHL history to reach the 800 mark, joining legends Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky. The goal also puts the long-time Capital just one goal back from Howe, who finished his career with 801.
As a beloved player across the league, the NHL world had a lot to say about Ovi’s historic night:
