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Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has scored goal No. 800 — reaching the feat with a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 13, the 29th of his career.

Go inside Ovechkin’s journey to 800 — and what comes next — with our Ovechkin 800 project, narrated by Emily Kaplan.

Ovi is third on the all-time NHL goals list, behind Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801). The next highest active player on the list is Sidney Crosby, at No. 34 with 534 goals. With his 787th goal, Ovechkin set the record for most goals scored with the same franchise. With goal No. 793, he passed Gretzky for the most goals scored on the road for a career (403).

Follow along here as Ovi scores his way up the record books, including a schedule of upcoming games and highlight videos of goals No. 787 and beyond.

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Upcoming schedule | Goal videos


The NHL’s top 10 in career goals

1. Wayne Gretzky (894)
2. Gordie Howe (801)
3. Alex Ovechkin (800)
4. Jaromir Jagr (766)
5. Brett Hull (741)
6. Marcel Dionne (731)
7. Phil Esposito (717)
8. Mike Gartner (708)
9. Mark Messier (694)
10. Steve Yzerman (692)


Highlights

Goal No. 798, 799 and 800

Just 24 seconds into their game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovi scored No. 798, assisted by John Carlson and Conor Sheary.

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0:46

Alex Ovechkin finds the net 24 seconds into the game for goal 798 as the Capitals lead 1-0.

Later in the first period, Ovi found paydirt again, this time a power-play goal assisted by Sheary and Sonny Milano.

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0:48

Alex Ovechkin notches goal 799 and his second of the game as the Capitals pad their lead to 2-0.

At 6:34 of the third period, Ovechkin made history, finishing off his hat trick and notching goal No. 800. The assists on the tally went to Anthony Mantha and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

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1:32

Alex Ovechkin gets his 800th goal in style, rounding out a hat trick against the Blackhawks.

Goal No. 797

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: With the Caps leading near the end of their win over the Winnipeg Jets, Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal. Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov picked up the assist on the goal.

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0:29

Alex Ovechkin puts the icing on the Capitals’ win against the Jets.

Goal No. 796

At 19:56 of the third period against the Seattle Kraken, Ovechkin fired a shot into an empty net to put him four goals away from 800. The empty-net goal was assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson.

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Alex Ovechkin collects the puck and slings in his 796th career goal on an empty net against the Kraken.

Goals No. 794 and 795

With the Capitals up 2-1 against the Philadelphia Flyers, Ovechkin was on the ice to close out the game — and scored two empty-net goals! The first was assisted by Anthony Mantha and John Carlson, while the second was assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Conor Sheary.

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1:06

Alex Ovechkin tallies twice on an empty net and now has 795 career goals.

Goals No. 792 and 793

Ovechkin scored two goals in the first period of the Capitals’ matchup against the Vancouver Canucks — the first unassisted and the second with help from Dylan Strome and Anthony Mantha. Ovechkin has now passed Wayne Gretzky for most goals all time on the road.

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0:39

Alex Ovechkin slaps in his second goal of the game to put the Capitals up 2-0 against the Canucks.

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Alex Ovechkin jumps on the loose puck and notches his 792nd career goal vs. the Canucks.

Goal No. 791

A victory over the Calgary Flames was already well in hand, but Ovechkin’s goal at 12:24 of the third period — assisted by Conor Sheary and Sonny Milano — put him nine away from 800.

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0:52

Alex Ovechkin tallies goal for Capitals on the power play

Goal No. 790

At 1:04 of overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers, Ovechkin notched a game-winning goal assisted by Dylan Strome and Erik Gustafsson.

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Alex Ovechkin wins it for the Capitals with this clutch slap shot in overtime vs. the Flyers.

Goal No. 789

A goal at 15:12 of the second period against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 17 moved Ovechkin one step closer to 800. Dylan Strome was credited with the one assist on the tally.

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Alex Ovechkin nets goal vs. Blues

Goal No. 788

Ovechkin scored at 14:36 of the second period in a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 7, a power-play goal assisted by Erik Gustafsson and Evgeny Kuznetsov:

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Alex Ovechkin scores on the power play for Capitals

Goal No. 787

With his goal at 8:55 of the second period — a power-play tally assisted by Trevor van Riemsdyk and Anthony Mantha — Ovechkin broke Gordie Howe’s record for most goals scored by a player with a single franchise:

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Alex Ovechkin scores his 787th career goal to break Gordie Howe’s record of most goals with one team.


Upcoming schedule

Note: All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Dec. 15: vs. Dallas Stars
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Dec. 17: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+/NHL Network

Dec. 19: vs. Detroit Red Wings
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Dec. 22: at Ottawa Senators
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Dec. 23: vs. Winnipeg Jets
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Dec. 27: at New York Rangers
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Dec. 29: vs. Ottawa Senators
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Dec. 31: vs. Montreal Canadiens
4 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 3: vs. Buffalo Sabres
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 5: at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 ET | ESPN

Jan. 6: vs. Nashville Predators
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 8: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
5 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 11: at Philadelphia Flyers
7:30 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 14: vs. Philadelphia Flyers
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 16: at New York Islanders
7:30 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 17: vs. Minnesota Wild
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 19: at Arizona Coyotes
9 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 21: at Vegas Golden Knights
10 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 24: at Colorado Avalanche
9 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 26: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 29: at Toronto Maple Leafs
5 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

Jan. 31: at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 ET | NHL Power Play on ESPN+

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Devils’ Nemec, scratched in G1, plays 2OT hero

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Devils' Nemec, scratched in G1, plays 2OT hero

NEWARK, N.J. — Simon Nemec hasn’t had an ideal start to his NHL career. But in Game 3 of the New Jersey Devils‘ Stanley Cup playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, he finally had his career highlight.

The 21-year-old defenseman scored an unassisted goal at 2:36 of double overtime on Friday night to give the Devils a 3-2 win and new life, cutting the Hurricanes’ series lead to 2-1.

In the process, Nemec, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NHL draft, had the most impactful moment of his pro career with his first playoff goal.

“I was so happy,” he said. “Amazing feeling. It’s been a tough season for me, and that’s a really big win for us.”

A native of Slovakia, Nemec spent his first season after the draft in the American Hockey League. He split time between the AHL and the Devils in Year 2, thrust into action because of injuries to the New Jersey defense. He split time between the NHL and the minors again this season. Nemec has played 87 games in the NHL, with five goals and 18 assists while skating to a minus-17.

He was a frequent healthy scratch in New Jersey, including Game 1 on Sunday, and his lackluster play caused many to wonder if Nemec would live up to his lofty draft position. Nemec was last on the Devils in goals above replacement at minus-8.7, according to Evolving Hockey.

Thanks to injuries to defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon, Nemec was called upon in Game 2 against Carolina and was back in the lineup for Game 3, in which the Devils lost defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic to injury after just 10 shifts. That injury, plus the multiple overtimes, meant massive increases in ice time for veterans such as Brian Dumoulin (36:29) and Brett Pesce (32:25), as well as more responsibility for Nemec.

“You just need guys to step up at the right times,” Dumoulin said. “He knew he was going to be going out there, we’re going to be relying on him, and we needed him. You could see that he took that moment. He wasn’t scared of it, and he took the reins of it.”

Nemec said the overtime goal, which beat Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen (34 saves), was the kind of boost he needs in his career.

“Yeah, it helps me a lot,” he said. “I feel like my confidence is back the last couple games. I’m just trying to play my game and do this stuff. I have to play offense a little bit, too, so my confidence is higher, and I just feel good about myself.”

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe admitted that he dreamed about defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, who returned to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 4 and played 27:09, being the Game 3 hero.

“But if I was really thinking, I would have said, ‘Wouldn’t this be something if the young guy who just stepped up so big for us here, if he ended the game?'” Keefe said.

The message the coach gave his team in the overtime intermissions was one of aggressiveness. That apparently wasn’t lost on Nemec.

“We’ve got to go win this hockey game. We don’t want to sit back, we don’t want this game to go on forever,” Keefe said. “Credit Nemo with doing that. To have the mindset to do it, not just sitting back and conserving energy. He was on the front foot. You love to see it and love to see him get rewarded.”

Game 4 of the series will be Sunday afternoon in New Jersey.

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Follow live: Kings look to take 3-0 series lead vs. Oilers

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Hagel suspended for Game 3 due to hit on Barkov

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Hagel suspended for Game 3 due to hit on Barkov

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel was suspended one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday night for what it labeled “an extremely forceful body check to an unsuspecting opponent” that injured Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

Hagel will miss Saturday’s Game 3 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers lead the series 2-0.

Around midway through the third period of Thursday’s Game 2, Tampa Bay was on the power play while trailing 1-0. Barkov pressured defenseman Ryan McDonagh deep in the Lightning zone. With the puck clearly past Barkov, Hagel lined him up for a huge hit that sent the Panthers captain to the ice and thumping off the end boards.

A penalty was whistled, and the officials conferred before calling a “five-minute penalty.” After review, Hagel was given a 5-minute major for interference. Barkov left the game with 10:09 remaining in regulation and did not return to the Panthers’ 2-0 win.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game that he didn’t expect Hagel to receive a major penalty for the hit.

“Refs make the call. I was a little surprised it was a five, but it was,” he said.

The NHL ruled that Hagel’s hit made “some head contact” on Barkov.

“It’s important to note that Barkov is never in possession of the puck on this play and is therefore not eligible to be checked in any manner,” the league said.

In the Friday hearing, held remotely, Hagel argued that he approached the play anticipating that Barkov would play the puck. But the Department of Player Safety said the onus was on Hagel to ensure that Barkov was eligible to be checked. It also determined that the hit had “sufficient force” for supplemental discipline.

It’s Hagel’s first suspension in 375 regular-season and 36 playoff games. He was fined for boarding Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen in May 2022.

The Panthers held an optional skate Friday. Coach Paul Maurice said Barkov “hasn’t been ruled out yet” but “hasn’t been cleared” for Game 3.

“He’s an irreplicable player,” Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said of Barkov. “One of the best centermen in the league. He’s super important to our team.”

The Lightning lose Hagel while they struggle to score in the series; they scored two goals in Game 1 and were shut out in Game 2. Tampa Bay was the highest-scoring team in the regular season (3.56), with Hagel contributing 35 goals and 55 assists in 82 games.

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