The Anaheim Ducks have been lighting up the scoreboard this season with an incredible hat trick frenzy, making 2023 a memorable year for fans. Leo Carlsson recently sealed the deal with a late powerplay goal, marking the team’s fourth hat trick in just 13 games – a feat that ties a franchise record set seven years ago. Considering the Ducks’ current stellar form under the guidance of Greg Cronin, it’s looking quite promising that they’ll surpass this record by the end of the season.
Now, let’s unravel the magic behind these remarkable hat tricks and explore how the Anaheim Ducks set this impressive record in motion.
What’s the best way to kick off a home opener? As a hockey fan, I’d argue that nothing ignites the crowd’s excitement more than gifting them with a hat trick performance. Cheering for a singular goal is awesome, but there’s no better feeling than seeing a player notch 3 of them. After a player gets his second of the evening, it gets the crowd on the edge of their seat every time he touches the puck in the offensive zone. Finally, when the third goal is achieved, you get to watch in awe as all the fans jump with their arms raised to the rafters, and the hats rain down on the ice as you hear the deafening roar of the crowd, it’s a euphoric sight, to say the least.
Frank Vatrano, the Anaheim Ducks winger, delivered exactly that on October 15th, facing the formidable Carolina Hurricanes. Just two games into the season, against a highly skilled defensive lineup, Vatrano elevated his game to another level, securing a hat trick. Less than two weeks later, Vatrano proved that his hot hand wasn’t going to end anytime soon, so he went out and again potted himself another three goal game. This time, he displayed his versatility by scoring in various ways, including a powerplay goal in the first period, an even-strength tally in the second, and a short-handed goal to cap off the Ducks’ impressive seven-goal surge.
A few games later, the Anaheim Ducks took on a lightning-quick Arizona Coyotes team. The Ducks struggled quite a bit offensively the first time they played Arizona earlier this season. Anaheim just couldn’t quite get in the prime scoring areas throughout the night. In the second matchup between these two teams, it was a much different story, largely thanks to Troy Terry. Troy was able to bury two goals on the powerplay in the first period, and in the third, he had one of his shots get deflected off Leo Carlsson and went into the net. This tally was Terry’s third point of the evening and tied the game up, which led to another overtime battle for the Ducks. Although I’m sure some Ducks fans did not want to toss another one of their hats on the ice, at this point of the game, it almost felt inevitable that Terry would score in overtime just due to how dangerous he was all night. Sure enough, thanks to an incredible individual effort from Mason McTavish, Terry received a cross-crease pass on a two-on-one and tucked it top shelf for the hat trick.
In the latest showdown against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Ducks pulled off their fourth hat trick of the season in a game filled with twists and turns. Initially trailing 3-0, the Ducks seized a crucial power play opportunity halfway through the game. With Trevor Zegras sidelined due to a day-to-day lower-body injury, Mason McTavish stepped into the first power play unit, making a mark by assisting on a power play goal by Leo Carlsson. As the game progressed, down by three once again in the third period, Alex Killorn orchestrated a brilliant 2-on-1 play with Carlsson, resulting in Carlsson’s second goal of the game, narrowing the gap to just two. Then, in a nail-biting turn of events, another power play chance emerged, and once more, Leo Carlsson capitalized by burying a loose puck in the crease, securing his first career NHL hat trick. Despite the Ducks ultimately falling to the Flyers 6-3, the first line, comprised of Alex Killorn, Leo Carlsson, and Troy Terry, delivered a stellar performance that left fans in awe.
In a season already filled with electrifying moments and promising prospects, the Anaheim Ducks continue to deliver unforgettable performances. With each hat trick, they keep fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next thrilling moment on the ice.
Episode 111: Who's Better? – Late Arrivals: An Anaheim Ducks Podcast
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