#nhlhattrick

Pat Lafontaine didn’t ease into the NHL. He exploded into it.

Just days after skating for Team USA at the 1984 Winter Olympics, the Islanders’ rookie phenom delivered a five-point performance in only his second NHL game. Playing at Maple Leaf Gardens on March 3, 1984, Lafontaine scored his first three NHL goals and added two assists in an unforgettable 11–6 New York win.

The third overall pick in the 1983 Draft would go on to score 468 NHL goals, record two 50-goal seasons, and earn induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. But it all started with one electric night in Toronto.

A more detailed look can be found here: Pat Lafontaine 2nd NHL Game

Before Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita took center stage, Ed Litzenberger was Chicago’s offensive leader. On February 7, 1959, the Blackhawks captain recorded his second career hat trick and added an assist in a 6–3 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Litzenberger scored three times, all set up by Ted Lindsay, while Glenn Hall made 23 saves. The game also featured a third-period melee and a memorable fight between Hull and Eddie Shack.

We go more in depth in this article: Ed Litzenberger 1959 Hat Trick