Alex Ovechkin became the sixth player in NHL history to record a hat-trick in his 40s
Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading scorer earlier this year. He continued to make history on Thursday.
In an 8-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens, the Washington Capitals legend scored the 33rd hat trick of his NHL career. These goals also represent the 905th, 906th and 907th goals of his career.
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With these three goals, Ovechkin became the sixth player in NHL history to record a hat-trick in his 40s, joining Jaromir Jagr, Gordie Howe (three times), Johnny Bocek (twice), Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom. At 40 years and 64 days old, he is the ninth-oldest player to achieve the feat.
Ovechkin’s 33 hat tricks also tie him with Brett Hull for fourth all-time, behind Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy.
Alex Ovechkin is moving further and further towards the 900-goal club. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Ikon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Sportswire Icon via Getty Images)
Ovechkin started his season off slightly, scoring just two goals in his first 12 games. It’s been a different story lately, as he has seven goals and three assists in his past six games, a stretch in which the D.C. club has been 4-1-1.
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It’s unclear how much time Ovechkin has to enter uncharted territory in the record books. He declined to say whether the 2025-26 season will be his last in the NHL, but his contract expires next summer and there has long been speculation that he wants to play out his final years in his native Russia. He’s already done a lot during his 21 seasons with the Capitals, and Thursday was just a continuation of that.