Looking at the wild stats behind Ovechkin's torrid start

In case you haven't heard, Alex Ovechkin has set fire to the NHL to begin his 2017-18 campaign, potting seven goals in two games.

Ovi started with a natural hat-trick Wednesday, then followed up with a four goal performance Saturday night, marking a historic start for one of the most prolific goal scorers in NHL history.

Here's a look at some of the best stats and facts from Ovechkin's blistering start:

Rarefied air

Alex Ovechkin matched a 100-year-old benchmark with hat tricks in each of the @Capitals first two games of the 2017-18 season. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/U4W4tZCfxB

- NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 8, 2017

ELIAS: Ovi is just 3rd player in history with hat tricks in back-to-back periods.. (Joe Malone in 1920, Darryl Sitler in 1976).. #Caps

- Rob Carlin (@RobCarlinNBCS) October 8, 2017

Ovechkin has tied Peter Bondra for the Capitals franchise record for hat tricks (19).

- CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 8, 2017

He's slowly but surely moving up the all-time ranks, too, with a huge name up next:

Updated-AGAIN-all-time goals
21. Mike Bossy 573
22. Alex Ovechkin 565
23 Joe Nieuwendyk 564
(tie) Mats Sundin 564
25. Mike Modano 561

- Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 8, 2017

Efficiency

Alex Ovechkin has 6 scored goals in his last 12 minutes and 13 seconds of ice-time lol what

- Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) October 8, 2017

It took Alex Ovechkin 11 games to score 7 goals last season. Took him two this year. Didn't score 7th until 11/5. Almost a month earlier.

- Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) October 8, 2017

More tidbits

• Ovechkin's fired 14 shots on goal so far, earning him a 50 percent success rate through two games.
• After a career-low 16 even strength goals in 2016-17, six of Ovechkin's goals this season have come at five-on-five.
• As of now, Ovechkin is on pace for 287 goals this season. That would indeed be a new league record.
• Linemate Evgeny Kuznetsov has assisted on all seven goals, six of which being primary helpers.

So, what's behind it all?

Ovechkin said his wife's sister is in town, and every time she's here, he scores a hat trick. "She's leaving Monday ..."

- Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 8, 2017

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