Alex Ovechkin hat trick history
(Photo Credit: All-Pro Reels/ Wikimedia Commons)

Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals’ superstar and one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history, has been thrilling fans with his incredible hat tricks for over a decade.

Throughout his illustrious career, Ovechkin has amassed an impressive 30 hat tricks, tying him for sixth place on the all-time list with hockey legends Bobby Hull and Marcel Dionne.

Ovechkin’s Most Memorable Hat Tricks

  1. The Playoff Duel with Sidney Crosby (May 4, 2009): In a thrilling playoff game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ovechkin and his rival Sidney Crosby both scored hat tricks, with the Capitals ultimately winning 4-3. This remains the only time in NHL history that opposing players have recorded hat tricks in the same playoff game.

  1. The Super Sunday Comeback (February 7, 2010): Ovechkin scored a natural hat trick in the last seven minutes of regulation to lead the Capitals back from a 4-1 deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins, resulting in a 5-4 overtime victory.
  2.  The 800th Goal Milestone(December 13, 2022): Ovechkin’s 800th career goal was part of a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks, making him only the third player in NHL history to reach the 800-goal mark.

NHL Players with the Most Hat Tricks

  1. Wayne Gretzky: 50 hat tricks
  2. Mario Lemieux: 40 hat tricks
  3. Mike Bossy: 39 hat tricks
  4. Brett Hull: 33 hat tricks
  5. Phil Esposito: 32 hat tricks
  6. Alex Ovechkin: 30 hat tricks

Alex Ovechkin’s Hat Tricks: A Complete List

Looking for a complete list of every Alex Ovechkin hat trick? The table below displays every one of Ovi’s three-goal games, spanning from 2005 to 2024.

Date Opponent Goals Final Score
2006-01-13 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3 3-2 W
2006-10-07 Carolina Hurricanes 3 5-2 W
2006-12-15 Atlanta Thrashers 3 3-2 W
2007-01-11 Ottawa Senators 3 6-3 W
2007-12-29 Ottawa Senators 4 8-6 W
2008-01-31 Montreal Canadiens 3 4-3 W
2008-03-03 Boston Bruins 3 10-2 W
2008-03-21 Atlanta Thrashers 3 5-3 W
2009-02-15 Tampa Bay Lightning 3 4-2 W
2009-03-19 Tampa Bay Lightning 3 5-2 W
2009-05-04 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 4-3 W
2010-02-07 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 5-4 OTW
2012-03-25 Minnesota Wild 3 3-0 W
2013-04-06 Florida Panthers 3 4-3 W
2015-10-10 New Jersey Devils 3 5-3 W
2015-10-23 Edmonton Oilers 3 7-4 W
2016-11-23 St. Louis Blues 3 4-3 W
2017-10-05 Ottawa Senators 3 5-4 SOW
2017-10-07 Montreal Canadiens 4 6-1 W
2017-11-25 Toronto Maple Leafs 3 4-2 W
2018-12-11 Detroit Red Wings 3 6-2 W
2018-12-14 Carolina Hurricanes 3 6-5 SOW
2019-01-22 San Jose Sharks 3 7-6 OTL
2019-11-30 Detroit Red Wings 3 5-2 W
2020-01-16 New Jersey Devils 3 5-2 W
2020-01-18 New York Islanders 3 6-4 W
2022-12-13 Chicago Blackhawks 3 7-3 W
2022-12-31 Montreal Canadiens 3 9-2 W
2023-03-14 New York Islanders 3 5-4 W

Alex Ovechkin scored his first career hat trick on January 13, 2006, against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Washington Capitals won the game 3-2, with Ovechkin scoring all three goals against goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère

Ovechkin’s most recent hat trick came on December 31, 2022, against the Montreal Canadiens. He scored three goals in the Capitals’ 9-2 victory, bringing his career total to 806 goals and 30 hat tricks. This hat trick moved Ovechkin into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL’s all-time hat tricks list.

Interestingly, only one of Ovechkin’s 30 hat tricks has come in a loss. This outlier is the Capitals’ 7-6 overtime loss to San Jose in 2019, in which Ovi’s three goals weren’t enough to get the win.

Verdict on Ovechkin’s hat tricks

Alex Ovechkin’s hat tricks have been a testament to his incredible scoring ability and his impact on the game of hockey.

As he continues his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, fans can expect more thrilling performances and unforgettable moments from the Great Eight.