Ovechkin scores a hat trick to hit career goal #800

There are only three certainties in life:

1. Death

2. Taxes

3. Alexander Ovechkin filling nets across the NHL.

The Capitals' captain scored career goal #800 this evening to cap off a hat trick performance in Chicago against the Blackhawks and now sits just 1 goal back of Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe on the NHL's all-time scoring list. Ovechkin, Howe and Wayne Gretzky are now the only three men in NHL history to score 800 goals or more. 

Ovechkin is 94 goals back of Gretzky's all time record of 894, but given his production and his consistency I think he'll pull it off. Sure, he's 37 years old but he's got 17 goals in 30 games so far thsi season and hit the 50 goal mark for the 9th time in his career just last season at 36 years old.

Historically Ovechkin hasn't missed much time due to injury, either. He's an absolute workhorse and I would bet on him playing past 40 years of age while chasing down Gretzky's record.