#1 Alex Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin is number one on this list but not just because of his hat trick. In our 3 keys to the game, but his defensive play to help out LT. That's team captaincy and the greatest show in Vegas since Elvis.
certified goal s̶c̶o̶r̶e̶r̶ saver pic.twitter.com/uDF4bpJFYr
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 18, 2024
"It was a pretty cool atmosphere like always. We played hard. Right from the start everybody did their job blocking shots. "Alex Ovechkin
Without further ado, the three goals to put him 28 away from tying number one goal scorer Wayne Gretzky:
Ovechkin's hat trick was the 31st of his career, moving him to within one of Phil Esposito for the fifth most in NHL history. It was also the 16th career hat trick on the road. The only players with just as much in NHL history are Gretzky and Mario Lemieux with 19 and Marcel Dionne with 17.
This season Ovechkin has now upped his goal total to 13 and he's doing this at 39. He's tied for first in the NHL in goals scored with Leon Draisaitl and Sam Reinhart, both of whom are 29.
Ovechkin's power play that got the party started for all the red clad Caps fans who made the treck to Vegas was not only against Samsonov but it put Sammy at 177 among goaltenders Ovi has scored on in his 20 year career.
It tied Patrick Marleau for the most goaltenders scored on in NHL history. Only Jaromir Jagr has one more goal against goalies.