Updated 07.03 | Published 06.38
NEW YORK. The old shooting king does not give up.
Last night, we note in the NHL sweep, Alex Ovetchkin became the sixth in history to complete a hat trick after his 40th birthday.
THE OLD MAN OF THE NIGHT
With him breaking Wayne Gretzky’s “impossible” goal record this spring and a couple of weeks ago also becoming history’s only member of the 900 club, many took it for granted that graying shooting king Alex Ovetchkin would put the pickaxes in the holster and start preparing for a long farewell.
But at the Bell Center in Montreal last night, he certainly didn’t look like someone longing for retirement. “Ovie” scored three goals when Washington beat the Canadiens with a whopping 8-4 and thus became only the sixth in NHL history to complete a hat trick as a 40-year-old – after Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk, Jaromir Jagr, Teemu Selänne and Nicklas Lidström.
– After everything he has already done, we are dumbfounded by what he is still doing, says teammate Ethen Frank, himself a two-goal scorer last night.
With its third straight win, Washington moved over the playoff mark, while injury-plagued Montreal, with its fifth straight loss, fell below that mark for the first time since the start of the series.
Rasmus Sandin was noted for an assist.
THE HOTTEST NEW YORK TEAM OF THE NIGHT
It is undoubtedly the New York Islanders. They have won six of seven games during a long road trip that ended in Detroit last night – and the Red Wings knocked them off 5-0.
With that, they sail up to third place in the Metropolitan table, with a hang on both Carolina and New Jersey.
– We have gained clarity during this road trip. Now we know that we can win a lot of games if we play this way, says coach Patrick Roy.
Emil Heineman and Adam Boqvist both contributed with plays.
THE BROKEN SUITE OF THE NIGHT
Fourteen straight games William Nylander produced at least one point, but in Toronto’s home game against Columbus last night, that stopped.
The guests won 3-2 after an overtime goal by Adam Fantillis and for once there was not a single note in the “Lill-Nyllets” column in the minutes.
However, Oliver Ekman-Larsson responded for an assist.
THE NIGHT’S JUMPING
Vancouver lost last night’s home game against Dallas 4-2, but for anyone hoping that Elias Pettersson will find his way back to former glory days, it was still encouraging.
For “EP” once again stood for an inspired effort and, among other things, scored his seventh goal of the season in a power play in the first period. Thus, he has scored in five straight games. Yes, a total of four goals and five assists. The thing about him not being in the Olympics…maybe a little too hasty anyway?
Linus Karlsson also scored a goal last night and Oskar Bäck assisted a Dallas goal.
THE SWEDISH POINT SAVER OF THE NIGHT
The LA Kings looked set to lose 3-2 away to San Jose, but as so often Adrian Kempe saved the night.
With less than a minute left, when the visitors took the goalkeeper out, he stayed in front on a rebound and whipped in his seventh goal of the season.
Then, as so often, the Sharks still won on penalties, but without Kempe there would have been no points at all for the LA Kings.
BEST OF THE NIGHT
No, it’s no coincidence that the Colorado Avalanche tops the overall standings. They are awfully good. They showed that again against the New York Rangers at home in the Ball Arena during the night. The visitors put up better opposition than expected, leading both 1-0 and 2-1, but each time Nathan Mackinnon and Cale Makar (both responsible for two goals and an assist) stepped on the gas, the difference in class was evident and in the end the Avs secured their seventh straight with a 6-3 victory.
– They are undoubtedly the best team we have played against this year, says Rangers coach Mike Sullivan.
Adam Edström scored his first goal of the season for Rangers and Mika Zibanejad assisted a goal.
OTHER RESULTS OF THE NIGHT
Florida won over New Jersey 1-0, Philadelphia turned a 0-2 deficit against St Louis into a 3-2 victory with the help of an overtime goal signed by Travis Sanheim, Tampa also won in overtime against Edmonton, but with 2-1 and the hero was called Jake Guentzel. Furthermore, Seattle managed to beat Chicago 3-2 at the United Center, while Vegas knocked Utah 4-1 at the Strip. In Anaheim, the Ducks lost 3-2 to Ottawa on a late goal by Drake Batherson. Leo Carlsson had an assist.
