10 – Number of goals scored by Alex Ovechkin in his last three hat tricks… all of which have been assisted by his favorite centerman, Nicklas Backstrom. In fact, the last time Ovechkin had a hat trick without at least one assist by Backstrom was February 1, 2009 (a game in which Backstrom still managed to put up three points in his own right).
Heading into the Wild game, Ovechkin’s last hat trick was a little over two years ago, when he put up a four-spot against the Lightning on December 10, 2013; in April of that same year, he picked up three goals against the Panthers.
The last time he scored three in one period? Well, you’d have to go all the way back to March 3, 2008, when he had a hat trick before the opening frame was over, part of a five-point night for the captain and a 10-goal outburst for the team.
(h/t @BenRaby31)