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  6. article_body => "<p>Taking on the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, the Capitals had a chance to get back into the win column and Alexander Ovechkin had a chance to get closer to the 700 career goals mark.<\/p>\n<p>With under seven minutes remaining in the third period, neither looked like it was going to happen. The Capitals trailed 2-1 and Ovechkin had been held out of the score column, not even registering a shot on goal.<\/p>\n<p>But then, like many times before, the Ovi magic struck.<\/p>\n<p>With 6:10&nbsp;remaining in the game, Ovechkin found the back of the net to tie the game at two and score career goal 696.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">One shot, one goal! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lWC7r14X6N\">pic.twitter.com\/lWC7r14X6N<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Washington Capitals (@Capitals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Capitals\/status\/1224880712966258689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>A mere 70 seconds later, Ovechkin followed his own shot and followed up for the go-ahead goal, number 697.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ovi with the late game heroics!!!! We are not worthy <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zeq0pa5J69\">pic.twitter.com\/zeq0pa5J69<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Washington Capitals (@Capitals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Capitals\/status\/1224881654570729473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>If that wasn't good enough, Ovechkin made sure to add one more for good measure on an empty-netter in the final minutes. The Caps got a 4-2 win, and Ovechkin put himself two goals away from history.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">THROW YER HATS!!! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R7l5cTkjkq\">pic.twitter.com\/R7l5cTkjkq<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Washington Capitals (@Capitals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Capitals\/status\/1224883150267936768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>If you were thinking that happened incredibly fast, it's because it did. In terms of history, it's the first time someone recorded a natural hat trick that started that late in the third period since 1987.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tonight the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Capitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Capitals<\/a>&#39; Alex Ovechkin scored at 13:50, 15:00 and 18:14 of the 3rd for a natural hat trick.<br><br>No NHL player had had a natural hat trick in the 3rd period after at least 13:50 had already elapsed since Quebec&#39;s Michel Goulet had one that began at 14:16 on 10\/12\/1987.<\/p>&mdash; Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/StatsBySTATS\/status\/1224896012025765888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>The big night gives him 14 goals in the last seven contests and 27 career hat tricks. At this point, it's getting hard to think of ways to describe \"The Great 8\" and his brilliance. For now, it's better to just enjoy the ride.<\/p>\n<p>Ovechkin will have a chance to reach 700 goals in front of the home crowd Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. As he showed Tuesday night, it can happen in the blink of an eye.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong is=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb65a2b6cedb?site_id=Dig_RSN_Wash&amp;creative_id=nbcswash1200&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcswash1200\" is=\"\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE CAPITALS NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Big Twenty:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/big-twenty-ovechkin-draft-kicks-rock-red-era-dc\" target=\"_self\">Ovi rocks the red<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Throwback:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/looking-back-wide-eyed-teenage-alex-ovechkin-draft-night\" target=\"_self\">Ovi on draft night<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Caps Top Kings:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/alex-ovechkins-3rd-period-natural-hat-trick-powers-caps-past-kings\" target=\"_self\">Third period the difference<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

Taking on the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, the Capitals had a chance to get back into the win column and Alexander Ovechkin had a chance to get closer to the 700 career goals mark.

With under seven minutes remaining in the third period, neither looked like it was going to happen. The Capitals trailed 2-1 and Ovechkin had been held out of the score column, not even registering a shot on goal.

But then, like many times before, the Ovi magic struck.

With 6:10 remaining in the game, Ovechkin found the back of the net to tie the game at two and score career goal 696.

A mere 70 seconds later, Ovechkin followed his own shot and followed up for the go-ahead goal, number 697.

If that wasn't good enough, Ovechkin made sure to add one more for good measure on an empty-netter in the final minutes. The Caps got a 4-2 win, and Ovechkin put himself two goals away from history.

If you were thinking that happened incredibly fast, it's because it did. In terms of history, it's the first time someone recorded a natural hat trick that started that late in the third period since 1987.

The big night gives him 14 goals in the last seven contests and 27 career hat tricks. At this point, it's getting hard to think of ways to describe "The Great 8" and his brilliance. For now, it's better to just enjoy the ride.

Ovechkin will have a chance to reach 700 goals in front of the home crowd Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. As he showed Tuesday night, it can happen in the blink of an eye. 

 

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.

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