CNN
 —

Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin is just 13 goals shy of surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL scoring record.

Ovechkin achieved his 32nd career hat trick during the Capitals’ impressive 7-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.

The dynamic forward scored two goals in the second period and added a final empty-net goal in the third period at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. This season, he has accumulated 29 goals in 41 games.

After the game, Ovechkin reflected on the significance of pursuing this record with his family present.

“It means a lot. The kids love hockey,” he shared. “Of course, we faced one of the best teams in the league, and both teams had top players on the ice. It feels great to win and score a few goals. I believe they are going to be thrilled.”

The 39-year-old Russian forward has amassed a total of 882 career goals, with 200 of them scored since January 1, 2020. He has made history as the first player to score at least 200 goals in three different decades.

According to NHL projections, Ovechkin is on track to set the new record on April 4 during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Capitals, who currently boast the best record in the NHL, have extended their home point streak to 16 games (11 wins, 0 losses, 5 overtime losses), the second-longest in team history.

Next, the Capitals will face off against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.