How Many Hat Tricks Can We Expect in the NHL Season?

We’re just a few weeks into the NHL season, and there have already been a few hat tricks. So how many can we expect in the rest of the season?

Introduction

With the NHL season in full swing, fans are hoping to see their favorite players rack up a few hat tricks. But just how likely is it that we’ll see multiple hat tricks in a single game?

In order to answer this question, we need to understand what a hat trick is and how often they occur in the NHL. A hat trick occurs when a player scores three goals in a single game. This is a relatively rare feat, especially in the modern era of hockey where teams are more evenly matched and goal-scoring is generally down across the league.

According to NHL.com, there have been just over 1,300 hat tricks since the league’s inception in 1917. That means that on average, we can expect to see about 10 hat tricks per season. However, this number can vary widely from year to year depending on the quality of teams and players in the league.

For example, during the 2017-18 season, there were a total of 31 hat tricks, which was significantly higher than the historical average. This was due in part to the fact that there were some exceptionally talented players in the league that year, such as Alexander Ovechkin and Patrik Laine.

So how many hat tricks can we expect in the 2019-20 NHL season? It’s tough to say for sure, but based on recent history and the current crop of players, it’s safe to say that we could see at least a dozen or so hat tricks this year.

What is a hat trick?

In ice hockey, a hat-trick occurs when a player scores three goals in a single game. A hat-trick is a relatively rare event, as it requires three goals to be scored in a single game, and even more rarer at the professional level of the sport. The NHL keeps track of hat-tricks scored throughout the course of the season and awards the player with a special achievement.

How many hat tricks happened last season?

The 2017-2018 NHL season saw 209 hat tricks, the second most in a season in the last decade. With the league supplying more offense than ever before, it’s a fair question to ask how many hat tricks we can expect this season.

Based on the scoring pace from last season and the evenness of scoring throughout the league, it’s fair to say we could see close to 250 hat tricks this season. Obviously, some players will have more than others, but with so many talented players in the league, it’s not out of the question that we could see 15-20 players with 3 or more hat tricks.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. It should be another historic year for goals and another fun season for hat tricks.

What is the record for most hat tricks in a season?

The NHL’s record for most hat tricks in a season is 7, set by Mario Lemieux in the 1992-93 season. Alex Ovechkin holds the second-most with 6, while Steve Yzerman and Jari Kurri both had 5 in a season.

Who are some of the most prolific hat trick scorers in NHL history?

Gordie Howe (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Gordie Howe – Detroit Red Wings

Gordie Howe is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He played for the Detroit Red Wings for most of his career, and is the NHL’s all-time leader in games played. Howe is also second on the all-time list for goals scored, and is fourth in points.

Howe was a six-time Stanley Cup champion, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. He scored a total of 1,018 goals in his career, and had 506 assists. Howe also holds the record for most hat tricks in a season, with eight.

Mario Lemieux (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Penguins

Mario Lemieux is another player who is considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He played his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in points. Lemieux was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, and his number 66 was retired by the Penguins.

Lemieux was a two-time Stanley Cup champion, and won several individual awards throughout his career. He scored 690 goals and had 1,033 assists in only 915 games played. Lemieux holds the NHL record for most points in a single season, with 199 (168 goals and 131 assists). He also has the second-most hat tricks in a season, with seven.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can expect to see a fair number of hat tricks this NHL season. With the talent level spread somewhat evenly among teams, we should see a lot of close games and some thrilling come-from-behind victories. Keep your eyes peeled for the players who are most likely to light the lamp three times in one game, and enjoy the show!