John Carlson Nets First Career Hat Trick with Ducks After 1,143 Capitals Games

John Carlson recently marked a significant milestone by netting his first career hat trick for the Anaheim Ducks. This achievement came after an extensive tenure with the Washington Capitals, where he played 1,143 games without a three-goal match. Remarkably, it took him just 13 games with the Ducks to accomplish this feat.

Historic Hat Trick During a Decisive Victory

On Thursday night, Carlson’s three goals significantly contributed to the Ducks’ commanding 6-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Reflecting on the experience, he expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s pretty exciting for me, too. I feel like the city’s embraced me. I love playing here.”

Performance Highlights

• Goals Scored: Carlson’s hat trick included goals number 2, 3, and 4 of his Ducks career, bringing his season total to 14 goals.
• Previous Record: This is the highest number of goals he has scored in a single season since netting 17 with the Capitals in the 2021-22 season.
• Games Left: With three games remaining in the current season, Carlson has the opportunity to tie or surpass his previous career high.

Details of the Hat Trick Goals

Each of Carlson’s goals showcased his offensive skill:

• First Goal: Scored with 13:40 left in the first period, Carlson put the Ducks ahead 2-0 with a powerful one-timer, assisted by Mikael Granlund and Pavel Mintyukov.
• Second Goal: During a power play in the third period, Carlson fired another slap shot, this time with assists from Troy Terry and Beckett Sennecke.
• Third Goal: Just 3:32 after his second, Carlson completed the hat trick with another power-play goal, benefitting from a pass from Terry that hit the post before crossing the goal line.

Carlson’s Impact and Records

Following his standout performance, Carlson was named the First Star of the Game, raising his point total with the Ducks to 12 (4 goals, 8 assists) in just 13 games. According to NHL Public Relations, he is noted as only the third defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick at the age of 36 or older. This distinguished group includes Mathieu Schneider and Nicklas Lidstrom, with Lidstrom holding the record for the most games played prior to achieving a hat trick.

Additionally, Carlson’s hat trick places him among the ranks of just four defensemen in Ducks’ history to achieve this milestone, and notably, he is the only one to do so during regulation play.