Ovechkin Breaks Two-Year Hat Trick Drought vs NJ (2/23/2013)

February 23, 2013 - For as great as Alex Ovechkin's career has been, the early 2010s stand out as an underwhelming era. Through his first 16 games of the lockout-shortened season, the Great 8 only had 5 goals, and just one at even-strength. In each of his last two seasons, he had failed to reach 40 goals after averaging nearly 54 per season in his first five. He had not even scored a hat trick in over two calendar years. Many doubted that he would ever return to the MVP form he had displayed early on. Against a defensive-minded Devils team who were leading the Eastern Conference and had reached the Cup Final the year before, the early season woes were expected to continue. For whatever reason, this game was different. After a solid first period, Ovi came out flying in the second. His second shift of the period saw him dangle through defenders, throw a huge hit, and cap off the shift with his second even-strength goal of the season. Ovechkin carried that momentum into the third, scoring his second at even-strength on a classic shot through a defenseman. Ovechkin had found his groove, and on a powerplay late in the third, he would score his third of the night to complete his first hat trick in over two years. Before the game was over he would add an assist for his first 4-point game in nearly as long. As a fan you could just feel it - Ovi was back. It was a huge turning point as he would score 24 goals over his next 31 games, propelling the Caps from last place to a division championship, and earning his 3rd MVP and Rocket Richard Trophy. He would go on to score 50 goals in each of his next three seasons and lead the league in goals in six of the next seven seasons. It was a cathartic performance that (at least in my opinion) marked the end of the low point of Ovechkin's career.

1st Period -
0:00 - Start of game
0:49 - Chance
0:58 - Steal and chance

2nd Period -
1:08 - Hit on Stefan Matteau
1:18 - Dangles through defenders
1:31 - Huge hit on Stefan Matteau
1:44 - Goal #1
2:46 - Great setup for Mathieu Perreault chance

3rd Period -
3:11 - Goal #2
4:18 - Big hit on Andy Greene
4:54 - Goal #3, 11th career hat trick
7:40 - Big counter hit on Alexei Ponikarovsky
7:50 - Assist on Troy Brouwer goal
9:15 - Final buzzer

More classic Ovechkin games -    • Classic Ovechkin Games