Ovechkin's First 3 Goals In A Capitals Uniform (9/30/2005)

September 30, 2005 - When most people think of Alex Ovechkin's first NHL goal, they think of his 2-goal performance in his regular-season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 5, 2005. But if you include the preseason, his first goal actually came 5 days earlier in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In fact, his first three goals were all scored in that game. One might think that a hat trick against the Penguins to start his NHL goal-scoring career would be a bit more famous, but in the long list of memorable performances, this one is often forgotten if known at all. It's understandable - aside from being a preseason game neither Sidney Crosby or Mario Lemieux suited up for the Penguins. But for many Capitals fans, this may have been their first game ever watching the future face of the franchise as it was only his second appearance of the preseason and many if not most preseason games were not televised in 2005. Due to the NHL mandating shootouts after games in the 2005 preseason fans even got to witness the first shootout goal of Ovechkin's career despite the Capitals winning in regulation. The game may not have officially counted, but it certainly marked the first time the NHL got a glimpse of the hall-of-fame career that would follow.

1st Period -
0:00 - Start of game
0:30 - Tries to split defenders, then nearly scores off turnover
0:55 - Hit on Max Talbot

2nd Period -
2:10 - Hit on Michel Ouellet
2:18 - Goal #1
3:50 - Great pass to Steve Eminger for scoring chance
4:35 - Another good pass to Eminger
5:05 - Assist #1

3rd Period -
6:05 - Goal #2, shorthanded
7:27 - Goal #3
9:09 - Hit on Andy Schneider

Shootout -
9:59 - Shootout goal

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