Alex Ovechkin passes up an opportunity to inch closer to Wayne Gretzky’s record by setting up his teammate in the final minute as the Capitals upend the Ducks, 7-4.

Ovechkin unselfishly fed Protas for a late empty-net goal to complete the hat trick, but the big forward’s first two goals were big ones. The first one tied the game late in the first period, and the second one came 31 seconds after Anaheim tied the game at 4-4 early in the third period.

Aliaksei Protas had the first hat trick of his NHL career, Alex Ovechkin and Pierre-Luc Dubois each had three points and the Washington Capitals extended their winning streak to five, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 7-4 on Tuesday night.