The first two nights of the NHL regular season have been full of goals. The superstars of the game have stepped up offensively, often in a big way.
Wednesday, Wayne Simmonds and Connor McDavid both notched hat tricks. And while we were watching Alex Ovechkin complete yet another three-goal game Thursday, Brandon Saad did the same. This is the first time in 100 years that four different players have scored hat tricks in their season-opening games.
…only other time there were 4 hat tricks in season openers was in 1917-18, the league's first season.
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) October 6, 2017
For Edmonton, Connor McDavid showed his impeccable hockey sense and remarkable speed in his first two goals, then knocked in an empty netter to set off a trove of flying hats.
Wayne Simmonds did what he does best in San Jose, screening the goalie and redirecting the puck on both of his first two goals. He also scored an empty-netter to seal the deal and capture the Flyers’ first ever opening day hat trick.
Thursday night, Brandon Saad punctuated Chicago’s 10-1 win over the Penguins with a three-goal performance of his own. On his third goal, he crashed the net, one-timing a pass from Jonathan Toews past the goalie.
Alex Ovechkin, of course, scored a hat trick of his own against the Ottawa Senators, his 18th.
All four are tied atop the NHL’s goal scoring lead two nights into the season.
There could be even more hat tricks. Ten additional teams are scheduled to play their season opening games over the next few days.
Headline Photo: Jim McIsaac/Codie McLachlan/Jonathan Daniel/Jana Chytilova
