Capitals crush Blackhawks as Alex Ovechkin scores number 800 in hat trick

The Washington Capitals defeated the Chicago Blackhawks for their fifth win in a row with a final of 7-3. Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick for his 798th, 799th and his 800th career goals.

Ovechkin’s first goal came 24 seconds into the game assisted by John Carlson and Conor Sheary and it came off a rebound.

Ovechkin’s second goal came on the power play with a strike at 8:14. That one was assisted by Sheary and Sonny Milano. It came as the goaltender of the Blackhawks got faked out after a shot from Sheary. He thought he had the puck but it was right behind him giving Ovechkin a wide open net.

Tyler Johnson got the Blackhawks on the board at the 19 minute mark. 2-1 was the score after one as the Caps outshot the Blackhawks 11-9.

At 4:56 Trevor Van Riemsdyk made it 3-1. He rebounded an Ovechkin shot with Strome on the secondary assist for his third goal of the season and second straight game with a goal

Jonathan Toews made it a one goal deficit at 11:38.

Nic Dowd would score his fifth goal of the season to make it 4-2 with a shot up the middle. It was assisted by Garnet Hathaway and Nicolas Aube Kubel.

4-2 was the score after two with the Blackhawks leading in shots 15-10.

At 6:34 in the third period Ovechkin competed the hat trick for his 800th career goal. Anthony Mantha and Evgeny Kuznetsov had the assists. Once again the goalie was out of position and Ovechkin made them pay.

Anthony Mantha gave the Caps a touchdown at 8:59 which was assisted by Nick Jensen for his eighth goal of the season.

Max Domi got the Blackhawks closer at 18:51. Dmitry Orlov would give the Caps the extra point at 19:24 assisted by Aube Kubel and Hathaway.

7-3was the final with the Caps leading in shots 9-5 in the third period and 30-29 overall. Charlie Lindgren made 26 saves.

Now Ovechkin is one goal shy of tying Gordie Howe for second place all time and two from passing him. He’ll look to do that Thursday night on home ice against the Dallas Stars.