Washington Capitals Dominate Edmonton Oilers 7-3: Ovechkin’s Hat-Trick Brings Him Closer to Gretzky’s Record
On February 23, 2025, at Capital One Arena in Washington, the Capitals delivered a commanding performance against the Edmonton Oilers, securing a resounding 7-3 victory. Team captain Alexander Ovechkin shined with a hat-trick (three goals in a single game), bringing his NHL career tally to 882 goals and leaving him just 12 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
The game started with an early strike from the Oilers. At 1:42 of the first period, Leon Draisaitl capitalized on a power play, delivering a powerful slap shot (a strong shot with a full wind-up) past Charlie Lindgren. However, the Capitals quickly responded. Tom Wilson leveled the score at 17:15, finishing a precise pass from Pierre-Luc Dubois. Just before the period ended, at 19:36, Jakob Chychrun scored on the power play, sending the puck into the net off a perfect feed from Wilson.
The second period saw Washington further assert its dominance. At 28:53, Ovechkin extended the lead with a precise wrist shot (a shot made with a quick flick of the wrist) from the slot. Ten minutes later, at 38:39, he struck again, this time executing his signature one-timer (a shot taken directly off a pass without stopping the puck) from the left faceoff circle, following a setup by Chychrun. With just 15 seconds remaining in the second period, Connor McMichael made it 5-1, converting a sharp pass from John Carlson.
In the third period, Edmonton attempted a comeback. At 46:35, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins found the net after a well-orchestrated play involving Viktor Arvidsson and Zach Hyman. Yet, Washington remained unfazed. At 50:38, Dylan Strome scored on a rebound (a shot taken off a loose puck after an initial save) following a shot by Alexei Protas. At 55:05, Jeff Skinner narrowed the gap, but at 57:22, Ovechkin completed his hat-trick by burying the puck into the empty net after the Oilers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.
Alexei Protas deserves special recognition for his playmaking, contributing three assists and showcasing his vision and chemistry with teammates. Jakob Chychrun also made a significant impact with a goal and an assist, playing a key role on both ends of the ice. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves, providing stability between the pipes.
On Edmonton’s side, Leon Draisaitl lived up to his reputation as one of the league’s top scorers by opening the scoring. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jeff Skinner also registered goals, but overall, the team’s performance, particularly on defense, was lacking. Goalie Calvin Pickard managed 27 saves but struggled to withstand the Capitals’ relentless pressure.
This victory extended Washington’s point streak to eight games (5 wins, 3 overtime losses), solidifying their position at the top of the league with 84 points. Meanwhile, Edmonton’s third consecutive loss raises concerns about their playoff ambitions.
Overall, the game showcased Washington’s high-scoring prowess and the brilliance of its star players, especially Alexander Ovechkin, who continues his determined march toward breaking the historic all-time goal-scoring record in the NHL.
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