While Capitals fans were witnessing Lars Eller having one of the best nights of his career, the NHL, as if it were on a sugar high after eating too much Halloween candy, was going berserk in its other games.
The NHL saw a 57-save performance, a hat trick, fights between angry non-fighters, and a bunch of goalies being grumpy Thursday night.
Let’s recap.
Mark Scheifele’s hatty
Celebrating a 🎩-trick with your two biggest fans = priceless.@markscheifele55 scores 3 with his parents watching tonight!#RiseTogether pic.twitter.com/EIMjHH2rGN
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 3, 2017
A lot of things happened during the Winnipeg Jets’ 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars, but Mark Scheifele’s hat trick was the biggest offensive achievement of the evening. Scheifele’s second career hattty was made even better because his parents were in attendance.
“Definitely a long time,” Scheifele said when asked by ABC News about the last time his parents saw a hat trick. “It was pretty fun to have a game like that in front of them.”
Just look how happy Mom and Dad were!
Semyon Varlamov’s 57-save night
Definitely a two thumbs up performance.
Way to go, #VarlyVarly! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ObuqTLmPJr
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 3, 2017
Former Capital Semyon Varlamov struggled mightily with the Colorado Avalanche last season, but is off to a great start this year (5-3, .914 SV%). In Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Varlamov stopped 57 shots, a career high.
No joke. Look at this insane shot chart.
These are shots on goal – not shot attempts, people. Varlamov’s incredible performance kept the Avs in the game for a 5-3 win.
Jonathan Quick, WYD??
Meanwhile, a cranky Jonathan Quick must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed Thursday. During the Kings’ game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quick was stick-happy and slashed Leafs players multiple times during the game.
Quick even tripped Zach Hyman in the dying seconds of the game, and then hit him with his stick while celebrating the win.
None of the slashes were called, but it’s safe to assume the Leafs were not happy.
“You kids get off my lawn!” – Ben Bishop, probably
In other goalie news, Ben Bishop was not pleased with Brendan Lemieux. After stopping a shot, Bishop encountered Lemieux as the Jets forward crashed the net after the puck was covered.
Bishop’s teammates came to his defense, but he wasn’t having any of it and quickly showed Lemieux the exit.
Benn vs. Buff: “Two big boys going after each other”
If you ever wanted to see 6’2″ Jamie Benn take on 6’5″ Dustin Byfuglien in an angry, I want to hurt you, heavyweight battle, your wishes have been answered. A few minutes into the second period, Byfuglien finished a check on Alexander Radulov.
Benn took exception to this hit and, after an intense discussion with Byfuglein, the gloves were dropped and faces were punched.
The two gladly took their penalties for this quality fight.
And now for a complete opposite fight
While the two heavyweights took on each other elsewhere, 5’7″ Mats Zuccarello decided to fight 6’6″ mountain of a man Victor Hedman. It all started with a little tiff behind the net.
They still had their gloves on throughout.
After Hedman fell, he then decided to throw the gloves off. The refs were already involved so the fight didn’t amount to much.
Props to Zuccarello, though.
What a weird night though. You’re so funny sometimes, NHL.
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