From nhl.com
https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-alex-ovechkin-scores-800th-nhl-goal/c-338763136
Ovechkin scores No. 800 for Capitals against Blackhawks
Forward joins Howe, Gretzky as only players to reach milestone in NHL history
by Tom Gulitti @TomGulittiNHL / NHL.com Staff
CHICAGO -- Alex Ovechkin became the third player in NHL history to score 800 goals when he had a hat trick for the Washington Capitals against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old left wing also moved within one goal of tying Gordie Howe for second in League history. Howe, who died on June 10, 2016, at the age of 86, scored 801 goals in 1,767 regular-season games over 26 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers.
When Ovechkin passes Howe, only Wayne Gretzky will remain ahead of him on the NHL goals list with 894.
"I think it's going to be a great memory for my wife, my kids," Ovechkin said last week.
"Obviously, my mom and dad are going to watch at home, my brother, too. It's great for the game. The fans, I think, are going to love it. I'm pretty sure lots of guys are going to appreciate it. It's a nice accomplishment."
Ovechkin scored his 798th goal just 24 seconds into the first period to make it 1-0. He then scored No. 799 with a power-play goal near the right post to make it 2-0 at 8:14 before reaching the milestone at 6:34 of the third period by getting to a loose puck and shooting into an open net to make it 5-2.
WSH@CHI: Ovechkin scores just 24 seconds into game
It was Ovechkin's 29th NHL hat trick, moving him ahead of Marcel Dionne and Bobby Hull for sixth in League history. His third goal was also his 20th of the season, making him the third player in NHL history to score at least 20 goals in 18 consecutive seasons, joining Howe (22) and Brendan Shanahan (19).
"It's incredible," Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews said before the game. "There's a lot of Wayne Gretzky's records you never thought anyone would touch, especially the goal one. So to see where he's at, 800 goals, it's hard to comprehend, really."
Ovechkin is the first player to score 800 goals with one team. He passed Howe for the record by scoring his 787th against the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 5. Howe scored 786 goals in 25 seasons with the Red Wings (1946-71) and 15 goals in one season with the Whalers (1979-80).
WSH@CHI: Ovechkin scores the 799th goal of his career
00:43 • 2:30 AM
Ovechkin was playing in his 1,305th regular-season game.Howe scored his 800th goal in his 1,748th NHL game, beating Mike Liut at 1:27 of the third period of the Hartford Whalers' 3-0 win against the St. Louis Blues at Hartford Civic Center on Feb. 29, 1980. Gretzky scored his 800th goal in his 1,116th game, beating Arturs Irbe at 6:16 of the first period of the Los Angeles Kings' 6-6 tie with the San Jose Sharks at San Jose Arena on March 20, 1994.
Ovechkin's 800th goal came in his 161st game since scoring his 700th against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 22, 2020. It took Gretzky 231 games and Howe 256 to reach the milestone after scoring No. 700.
