The New York Rangers might be navigating some challenging times, but there's a silver lining worth celebrating. Amidst the records and milestones stacking up against them, the Rangers have managed to keep one remarkable streak intact against Alex Ovechkin, arguably the greatest goal scorer in NHL history.
Recently, the NHL highlighted an intriguing list: teams against which Ovechkin has scored a hat trick. With his latest performance, Ovechkin has now notched hat tricks against 21 different teams, setting a new record. It's a testament to his legendary scoring prowess, with 34 hat tricks to his name-an impressive feat, even if it's only the fourth highest in league history.
But here's where it gets interesting: the New York Rangers are conspicuously absent from that list. Despite facing Ovechkin 79 times in the regular season, the Rangers have never allowed him to score a hat trick. He’s come close, scoring two goals on ten occasions against them, but that elusive third goal has always slipped away.
For Rangers fans, that’s a point of pride. Ovechkin has certainly been a thorn in their side, netting 46 goals in those 79 games-the sixth most against any team in his career. Yet, no hat tricks and not even an empty-netter against the Blueshirts.
While some might argue that the Rangers have managed to contain Ovechkin better than most, the numbers tell a more nuanced story. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he’s scored 13 goals in 37 meetings against them, proving to be an undeniable X-factor in those high-stakes matchups.
So, while Ovechkin has undeniably been a formidable opponent, the Rangers have achieved something few teams have: keeping his hat trick count at zero. It’s a small victory, but one that stands out in the annals of his illustrious NHL career.