The Washington Capitals have gotten off to a perfect start for their 2017-18 campaign, going 2-0. However, the biggest story has been the play of 32-year-old star and sure-fire future Hall of Famer, Alex Ovechkin. He is arguably the greatest star in NHL history. In doing so has etched his name in the record books for all time with his play in the first two games of the young season.

How Ovechkin got his pair of hat tricks

It started on opening night when the Washington Capitals defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-4 in a shootout. Alex Ovechkin picked up a Hat Trick in the third period alone, doing so in a span of 6:33, to help his team twice come back from a deficit and tie the game.

He would also score a goal in the shootout that does not count towards his season stats.

Yesterday, the Capitals played their home opener and ended up absolutely dominating the Montreal Canadiens, routing them 6-1. Ovechkin basically put away the game by himself, as he got his second hat trick of the season in the first period. The most hat tricks that he has ever had in one season was three, which he did in the 2007-08 season when he won his first Hart Memorial Trophy.

This was his 19th career hat trick, the most in the NHL since the 1993-94 season. He would also add a fourth goal in the third period and now has scored seven goals through two games. For comparison, the veteran scorer had 33 goals last season when he played in all 82 regular season games.

What makes his accomplishment so historic?

In opening the NHL season with two hat tricks Alex Ovechkin become the first player to do so since the league's inaugural season in 1917-18.

That first season there were actually three players who opened the season with two hat tricks. Those three players were Hall of Famers Cy Denneny, Joe Malone, and Reg Noble.

This was also the first time in Ovechkin's amazing career that he has had hat tricks in consecutive games. He also became the first Capitals player to accomplish this since Peter Bondra did so from February 3-5 back in 1999.

Tonight's game was also the 114th multi-goal game of his career, tying him with Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne for the most by a player since the 1993-94 season.

Ovechkin will now look to continue his hot start and keep the Capitals undefeated as they stay at home to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. Considering he has 41 career goals against Tampa Bay, it seems to be a safe bet that this will take place.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED