Alex Ovechkin Opens The Year In Style

Alex Ovechkin only needed one period yesterday to complete a feat that no NHL player had accomplished in 100 years, scoring three quick goals in the first period against Montreal to open the season with a nearly unprecedented two hat tricks in two games.

The last time anyone else pulled this off, it was the NHL’s inaugural season, and Cy Denneny, Joe Malone and Reg Noble all had back-to-back three-goal nights—which maybe tells you that hat tricks weren’t quite so difficult back then.

Ovechkin’s goals last night, particularly the first two, were marvels of accuracy, getting one stunning turn-around shot less than 20 seconds into the game, then beating Carey Price clean on a power play just a couple of minutes later.

Ovie notched a nifty deflection afterwards to lock up the trick, then also got the credit from an own goal in the second, bringing his season total to a staggering seven goals in two games.