800 goals in the NHL – ice hockey star Ovechkin makes history

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Alexander Ovechkin in the dressing room with the pucks for goals 798, 799 and 800

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Charles Rex Arbogast / dpa

Ice hockey star Alexander Ovechkin has reached a rare milestone in the North American professional league NHL.

The Russian scored his NHL hits 798, 799 and 800 in the Washington Capitals' 7-3 win at the Chicago Blackhawks. Only the icons Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801), who broke the mark first in February 1980, met more often.

The 37-year-old Ovechkin has played at a consistently high level since his NHL debut in 2004: he scored at least 20 goals in each of the 18 seasons.

He needed 1305 games for his 800 goals - significantly less than Howe, but significantly more than Gretzky.

Ovechkin sinks into a bunch of jubilation

"That's a big deal," said Ovechkin. "It's the best company you can imagine since you played hockey."

Ovechkin gave Washington a 2-0 lead with his first two goals, but after his third goal to make it 5-2 all dams broke.

His teammates made the 37-year-old disappear in a crowd of jubilation, the fans celebrated their hero.

Most recently, Ovechkin broke an NHL record that was more than 50 years old: in early November, he became the player with the most goals for a team.

'Most goals ever with the same team.

How blessed are we?

Thanks Alex,” team owner Ted Leonsis wrote on Twitter.

German Draisaitl breaks the 50 mark

Leon Draisaitl became the second NHL player of the season to break the 50 mark in scoring points.

The 27-year-old international was involved in five goals in the Edmonton Oilers' 6-3 win over the Nashville Predators.

He scored two goals himself and set up three more.

For Draisaitl it was the second five-point game of the season - he also managed the first against the Predators.

Overall, he now has 51 points, only his teammate Connor McDavid has more.

He was involved in four goals on Tuesday night and has 59 points.

mas/sid/dpa