Ovechkin scores 32nd hat trick, nears Gretzky's record

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals scored his 32nd career hat trick in a 7-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, bringing him to 882 career goals, just 13 shy of Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894. Ovechkin's impressive performance included an empty-net goal from 139 feet, showcasing his remarkable skill even at the age of 39. Teammates have expressed awe at Ovechkin's abilities, with goaltender Charlie Lindgren praising him as the 'best hockey player in the world.' Ovechkin's current season includes 29 goals and he ranks seventh in scoring despite missing 16 games due to injury. The Capitals and their fans are embracing this historic moment as Ovechkin continues to chase the record, with an estimated timeline for potentially breaking it in early April. His achievement of 32 hat tricks ranks fifth in NHL history, still behind Gretzky's record of 50.