NHL Hat Tricks History & Fun Facts

A hat trick is one of the NHL’s rarest achievements with only 96 during the 2022-23 season. That’s rarer than a shutout, with 117 in 2022-23, or a shorthanded goal, of which there were 250 last season. Of the 8,248 goals scored that season, 294 were scored with a hat trick.

The greatest player of all-time, Wayne Gretzky, had 50 regular season hat tricks in his career, or one in 3.4 percent of his games. A 15-season veteran like Claude Giroux, who has over 300 goals, only has one regular-season hat trick. The point is that hat tricks are rare because they’re difficult.

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But they’re also fun and the potential for one has everyone in the arena watching with intrigue after a player reaches two goals in a game, waiting to toss hats onto the ice, participating in a tradition that dates back to the 1930s or 1950s, depending on who you ask. It’s because of how fun they are that I wrote all about them. There are many ways to look at hat tricks – by team, by player, individual season, career, regular season, and postseason. This post is about all of those and my goal is to show that hat tricks are, in fact, fun.

Single Season Hat Trick Leaders

10 – Wayne Gretzky 1981-82

Wayne Gretzky scored 10 hat tricks in a season twice and it’s no surprise that one of those occurrences was during the 1981-82 season when he scored a record 92 goals as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. The Great One had back-to-back hat tricks on Dec. 27 vs. the Los Angeles Kings with four goals and on Dec. 30 against the Philadelphia Flyers with five goals.

Hat Tricks, Graphics

Those hat tricks were part of a stretch when he had three in five games when including his Dec. 19 hat trick versus the Minnesota North Stars. Gretzky had two or more goals in 22 games that season. He had two hat tricks against the Flyers, one on Jan. 31 in addition to the one listed above, and two against the Kings with one on Nov. 25 as well as the one on Dec. 27.

10- Wayne Gretzky 1983-84

Gretzky’s second season with 10 hat tricks was the same season he scored 87 goals, the second-most in history. He had 24 games with at least two goals, more such games than he had in 1981-82. He had back-to-back hat tricks twice. The first began on Jan. 4 with a four-goal game against the North Stars. It was followed up by a standard hat trick against the Hartford Whalers on Jan. 7.

His second of back-to-back hat tricks occurred on consecutive days, Feb. 21 and 22 against the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins, respectively, with four goals in each. Gretzky had two hat tricks versus the Winnipeg Jets, the only team he had multiple hat tricks against that season, on Nov. 6 and Dec. 21.

9 – Mike Bossy 1980-81

Arguably the greatest goalscorer in league history, Mike Bossy averaged .76 goals per game (G/G) for his career, highest in history using Hockey-Reference’s rate stat requirements. During the 1980-81 season, led the league with 68 goals and it was the fourth of nine straight seasons with at least 50 goals. He had nine hat tricks that season including two instances of back-to-back tricks.

Mike Bossy 50 Goals - NHL Hat Tricks History
Mike Bossy is arguably the best goalscorer to ever play and has the highest goals per game rate in league history. He had nine hat tricks during the 1980-81 season, the same season he led the league with 68 goals. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

His first set of back-to-back hat tricks started on Nov. 8 against the Chicago Black Hawks and ended on Nov. 11 with four goals versus the North Stars. His second time began with a four-goal performance against the Penguins on Jan. 13 and ended on Jan. 17 versus the Washington Capitals. He scored at least two goals in 16 games and had multiple hat tricks against one team, the Black Hawks.

9 – Mario Lemieux 1988-89

Mario Lemieux’s 1988-89 season was the best ever by a player not named Gretzky. Lemieux scored 85 goals, fourth-most in history, and 199 points, which made him the only player besides Gretzky to ever approach 200 points in a season. That season, Lemieux failed to register consecutive hat tricks but did net a goal in seven straight games between Oct. 11 and 25. During that stretch, he accumulated 15 goals and two hat tricks.

NHL Milestone Tracker

He also scored multiple goals in 24 games and finished with two hat tricks versus the New Jersey Devils. He scored five goals along with three assists against them on Dec. 31 and had a standard hat trick on March 31.

8 – Brett Hull 1991-92

Brett Hull scored 70 goals during the 1991-92 season, the third straight season he led the league in goals, and also the third consecutive season with 70 or more goals. He had no back-to-back hat tricks that season but did score two-plus goals in 14 games. He had his most hat tricks against the New York Islanders with two, one on Dec. 10 and a second on Dec. 21, in only three games against them that season.

Brett Hull Dallas Stars
Brett Hull led the league in goals three straight seasons between 1990 and 1992. During the 1991-92 season, when he netted 70 goals, he had eight hat tricks, fifth-most in history. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)

Most Career Hat Tricks

50 – Wayne Gretzky

Again, nearly every list for “the best” or “the most” of something in NHL history will include Gretzky and most likely, he’ll top the list. His 50 career hat tricks are 10 more than any other player and doesn’t include his 10 postseason hat tricks in the NHL, his four WHA regular season hat tricks, nor his one WHA postseason hat trick.

In addition to his two 10-hat trick seasons, he also had a season with six and two seasons with four hat tricks. He had seven NHL hat tricks against the Jets and one in the WHA against them, his most against one franchise. Using his 40 regular season NHL hat tricks, he scored one in 3.4 percent of his games as well as one in five percent of WHA games.

40 – Mario Lemieux

Lemieux played in 915 regular season games in his career, over 500 less than Gretzky, but still managed to have the second-most hat tricks in history. Lemieux’s 40 regular season hat tricks equal one in 4.4 percent of games. He also had three postseason hat tricks, including five goals against the Flyers on April 25, 1989. On top of his nine hat tricks during the 1988-89 season, he also had two seasons with six, one with five, and two with four hat tricks.

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

He totaled four regular season hat tricks against the Flyers, his most against one team, and added one against them in the postseason. He also had a four-goal game against the Flyers on March 20, 1993, his third of four hat tricks during the 1992-93 season when he played in 60 games.

39 – Mike Bossy

Bossy scored a hat trick in 5.2 percent of games he played, by far the highest among those on this list. In only 752 regular season games, he finished with 39 hat tricks and added five in 129 postseason games. In addition to his nine hat tricks in 1980-81, he finished with five twice and had three seasons with four hat tricks. He had six hat tricks against the Black Hawks/Blackhawks, including two against them during each of the 1980-81 and 1983-84 seasons.

33 – Brett Hull

Hull finished with 33 regular season hat tricks, or one in 2.6 percent of games. He had at least three hat tricks in four seasons and had three regular season hat tricks against the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs, including back-to-back hat tricks against the Maple Leafs on Oct. 24-25, 1990. Hull had one playoff hat trick, in 2002, as a member of the Detroit Red Wings against the Vancouver Canucks.

32 – Phil Esposito

Longtime Boston Bruin Phil Esposito was the career leader in hat tricks from 1978 until 1985 when Gretzky passed him. Esposito finished with 32 hat tricks, still fifth-most in history, quite a feat considering he hasn’t played in 37 years. He scored a hat trick in 2.5 percent of games and had four postseason hat tricks in 130 games. He had one season with seven hat tricks and three with four hat tricks. He victimized the Canucks throughout his career, scoring five hat tricks against them.

Phil Esposito Boston Bruins
Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, circa 1972 (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

Active Hat Trick Leaders

28 – Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin is the active leader in goals by a wide margin. Therefore it makes sense that his 28 hat tricks in the regular season are tops among active players and ties him for sixth all-time. He has three seasons with three hat tricks – 2007-08, 2008-09, 2017-18, and 2018-19; and one season with four – 2019-20.

Ovechkin has his most hat tricks against the Ottawa Senators with three, one each in 2007, 2009, and 2017. That includes a four-goal, one-assist performance in an 8-6 win on Dec. 29, 2007. He also has one postseason hat trick, on May 4, 2009 against the Penguins when both he and Sidney Crosby had hat tricks.

*15 – Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr is still an active player in Europe, although it’s unlikely he plays in the NHL again. He has 15 career hat tricks, but hasn’t scored one since the 2014-15 season and with over 1,700 regular season games, he has a hat trick in under one percent of his games. He scored 10 with the Penguins, three with the New York Rangers, two with the Capitals, and one as a Devil.

Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr has 15 regular season hat tricks in his illustrious career, including three with the Rangers, his second-most with a franchise. (Credit: Michael Miller/Pens Through My Lens)

He’s had three hat tricks in a season twice, in 2000-01 and 2005-06. His three hat tricks against the Bruins are his most against one franchise and all three occurred when he was a Penguin. Jagr has one postseason hat trick, also as a Penguin, on May 11, 1996 against the Rangers when he and Lemieux both had one.

14 – Eric Staal

Somewhat of a surprising player on this list, Eric Staal has 441 regular-season goals and led the league with four hat tricks during the 2008-09 season. He has a hat trick in one percent of games and scored one in 2017-18 as a member of the Wild against the Blues on Feb. 27 when he had three goals and two assists.

Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
Eric Staal led the league with four hat tricks during the 2008-09 season and has 14 regular season hat tricks in his career. – Photo By Andy Martin Jr

In addition to that hat trick against the Blues, he scored another against them in 2006 as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. His two hat tricks versus the Blues are tied with the Atlanta Thrashers for his most against one franchise. Both hat tricks versus the Thrashers were with the Hurricanes, one in 2008 and one in 2010.

13 – Evgeni Malkin

Evgeni Malkin may not be among the 100 best players in NHL history, but his one regular season hat trick in 1.3 percent of games is behind only Ovechkin on this list. Malkin had three hat tricks during the 2011-12 season, two in 11 days between Jan. 3 and Jan. 14, 2008, and one hat trick last season.

Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

He has been particularly good against the Islanders and Lightning with two hat tricks against each, unsurprising as his 32 regular season goals against the Islanders are his most against one franchise. He also has two postseason hat tricks, one against the Hurricanes during the 2009 Playoffs which helped him win the Conn Smythe Trophy and one against the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014.

Progressive Leaders

Maurice Richard - NHL Hat Tricks History
Maurice “Rocket” Richard took over as the sole leader in career hat tricks with 26 during the 1957-58 season and remained in the lead until the 1970-71 season when Bobby Hull surpassed him. (THW Archives)

The NHL started off with a bang from a hat trick perspective in 1917-18, the league’s inaugural season, as Hall of Famers Cy Denneny and Joe Malone both tallied seven that season. Denneny finished with 25 hat tricks while Malone retired with 18. Denneny was the league’s sole career leader in hat tricks from the second season, in 1918-19, until the 1955-56 season when Maurice “Rocket” Richard tied him with 25.

Richard took the lead two seasons later, in 1957-58, and remained the all-time leader until the 1970-71 season when Bobby Hull surpassed him with 27 tricks. Hull’s 28 career hat tricks were tops until Phil Esposito took over during the 1977-78 season and he led until Gretzky passed him during the 1984-85 season with 34 and has held the lead since.

By individual seasons, Denneny and Malone’s seven hat tricks in 1917-18 remained the most in a single season until the 1980-81 season when Bossy surpassed them with nine. That record lasted less than a season when Gretzky had 10, a record that remains intact.

Yearly Leaders

2021-22 (4) – Auston Matthews

In a season that saw Auston Matthews score 60 goals, all four of his hat tricks were three-goal games. His first was on Dec. 1 against the Avalanche and his second came almost two months later on Jan. 31 against the Devils. It took until March 8 versus the Seattle Kraken for him to notch his third and finally his fourth on April 4 against the Lightning.

2020-21 (3) – Mika Zibanejad, Connor McDavid

Mika Zibanejad’s three hat tricks in 2020-21 were all three-goal games. His first two that season came against the Flyers – both six-point games – on March 17 and 25. He finished off with his final three-goal effort a month later on April 25 against the Sabres.

Connor McDavid’s three hat tricks were all three-goal games too, with his first taking place on Jan. 14 versus the Canucks. His second was on Feb. 20 against the rival Flames and his final one came on April 26 against the Jets.

2019-20 (4) – David Pastrnak, Alexander Ovechkin

Three of David Pastrnak’s hat tricks were three-goal games, while one was a four-goal effort. The first and only four-goal game of his career so far came on Oct. 14 against the Ducks. He then followed that up with a three-goal game on Nov. 26 versus the Canadiens. Flipping over to 2020, he finished with another two on Jan. 9 and Feb. 12 against the Jets and Canadiens respectively.

David Pastrnak Boston Bruins
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

For the third season in a row, Ovechkin was amongst the leaders in hat tricks. His first of four came on Nov. 30 against the Red Wings. His other three came in the new year, starting against the Devils on Jan. 16 and the Islanders a day later on Jan. 18. Finally, he notched his fourth on Feb. 4 against the Kings.

2018-19 (3) – Alex Ovechkin, Patrik Laine, David Pastrnak

Ovechkin’s three hat tricks in 2018-19 were all three-goal games. His first was on Dec. 11 against the Red Wings and his second came three days later, on Dec. 14, against the Hurricanes. His final one took place on Jan. 22 against the Sharks.

Patrik Laine’s three hat tricks all occurred in November, with his first taking place on Nov. 1 against the Panthers. His second was on Nov. 19 against the Canucks, and his final hat trick was less than a week later against the Blues when he scored five goals. All three of his hat tricks were road victories for the Jets.

Lastly, Pastrnak spread out his hat tricks. His first was early in the season, on Oct. 13 against the Red Wings, while his second one was just under a month later, on Nov. 10 against the Maple Leafs. His final three-goal game was near the end of the regular season, on March 27 against the Rangers. All three hat tricks were home victories for the Bruins.

2017-18 (3) – Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, Alex DeBrincat

Ovechkin scored all three of his hat tricks in 2017-18 before the calendar flipped to 2018. He opened the season with back-to-back hat tricks on Oct. 5, with three goals against the Senators and Oct. 7, with four goals against the Montreal Canadiens. His third hat trick occurred on Nov. 25 against the Maple Leafs.

Connor McDavid’s first hat trick was against the Calgary Flames in the Oilers first game on Oct. 4 when he scored all three of his team’s goals. His second was on Feb. 5 against the Lightning when he netted four goals and added an assist and his final hat trick was on Feb. 18 against the Avalanche. Alex DeBrincat’s three hat tricks were the first three of his career, against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 27, the Red Wings on Jan. 25, and the Blues on March 18.

2016-17 (3) – Patrik Laine

Laine’s three hat tricks during the 2016-17 season led the league and were the first three of his career, making him the youngest in league history with three. The first was against the Maple Leafs on Oct. 19 and was followed up by ones against the Stars on Nov. 8 and Feb. 14.

Patrik Laine Columbus Blue Jackets
Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

2015-16 (3) – Zach Parise

Three of Zach Parise’s five career hat tricks took place during the 2015-16 season as a member of the Wild. Like Ovechkin and McDavid listed above, Parise’s first hat trick that season was in the Wild’s first game and on the road against the Avalanche. He also had one on the road against the Blue Jackets on Jan. 5 and one at home against the Flames on March 24.

2014-15 (3) – Corey Perry

Corey Perry’s first hat trick of the 2014-15 campaign occurred in the Ducks’ 6-4 loss to the Penguins to open the season on Oct. 9. On Oct. 22, he had a three-goal game against the Buffalo Sabres and finished with one against the Maple Leafs on Jan. 14.

2013-14 (3) – Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski, Max Pacioretty

Tyler Seguin has eight career hat tricks, including seven as a Star. His three hat tricks during the 2013-14 season are his most in a season and included a four-goal game on the road against the Flames and home hat tricks against the Flyers and Canucks. All four of Joe Pavelski’s career hat tricks occurred in road games and during the 2013-14 season, they were against the Lightning, Flyers, and Oilers. The third player who tied for the league lead was Max Pacioretty, with hat tricks against the Wild, Canucks, and Senators.

Tyler Seguin Dallas Stars
Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Times Leading the League

8 – Maurice “Rocket” Richard

Richard led the league in hat tricks a record eight times between 1944 and 1955, including three consecutive seasons between 1946-47 and 1948-49 and never had more than four in a season.

6 – Bobby Hull

Bobby Hull tied or led the NHL outright six times, including four straight seasons between 1963-64 and 1966-67. He finished his NHL career with 28 regular season hat tricks and added another 13 in the WHA.

5 – Charlie Conacher

Charlie Conacher led the league in hat tricks five times during the 1930s as a member of the Maple Leafs. He finished his career with 15 regular season hat tricks.

5 – Cy Denneny

Denneny, the league’s original hat trick king, led the league in the category five times in the league’s first seven seasons.

5 – Gordie Howe

Although Gordie Howe’s career spanned five decades, all five times he led the league in hat tricks occurred between 1949-50 and 1956-57. He finished with 19 regular season hat tricks in the NHL and never had more than three in a season.

*Notable that Gretzky only led the league in hat tricks three times.

Times in the Top-10 for Hat Tricks in the Last 10 Seasons

7 – Alex Ovechkin

Top-10 in 2008-09, 2012-13, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20

3 – Corey Perry

Top-10 in 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2014-15.

Corey Perry Anaheim Ducks
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

3 – Steven Stamkos

Top-10 in 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2013-14.

3 – Eric Staal

Top-10 in 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11.

3 – David Pastrnak

Top-10 in 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22.

Hat Tricks by Season – Past 10 Seasons

2021-22 – 102

2020-21 – 60 (COVID-Shortened Season)

2019-20 – 67 (COVID-Shortened Season)

2018-19 – 97

2017-18 – 81

2016-17 – 59

2015-16 – 67

2014-15 – 49

2013-14 – 56

2012-13 – 32 (Lockout-Shortened Season)

Hat Tricks by Team

Anaheim Ducks

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 59

Career Leader: Teemu Selanne – 13

Season Leader: Teemu Selanne (1997-98), Corey Perry (2010-11), Corey Perry (2014-15) – 3

Teemu Selanne Ducks
Teemu Selanne’s 13 hat tricks with the Anaheim Ducks remain a franchise record. (James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE)

Arizona Coyotes

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 118

Career Leader: Dale Hawerchuk – 12

Season Leader: Teemu Selanne (1992-93) – 5

Boston Bruins

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 320

Career Leader: Phil Esposito – 26

Season Leader: Phil Esposito (1970-71) – 7

Buffalo Sabres

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 192

Career Leader: Rick Martin – 21

Season Leader: Rick Martin (1975-76), Alex Mogilny (1992-93) – 7

Calgary Flames

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 200

Career Leader: Kent Nilsson – 14

Season Leader: Kent Nilsson (1982-83), Lanny McDonald (1982-83), Hakan Loob (1987-88), Theo Fleury (1990-91) – 5

Carolina Hurricanes

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 130

Career Leader: Eric Staal – 13

Season Leader: Eric Staal (2008-09) – 4

Chicago Blackhawks

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 274

Career Leader: Bobby Hull – 28

Season Leader: Bobby Hull (1959-60, 1965-66) – 4

Colorado Avalanche

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 160

Career Leader: Peter Stastny – 16

Season Leader: Miroslav Frycer (1981-82), Peter Stastny (1982-83) – 4

Columbus Blue Jackets

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 43

Career Leader: Cam Atkinson – 6

Season Leader: Tyler Wright (2002-03), Rick Nash (2008-09), Jeff Carter (2011-12), Cam Atkinson (2018-19) – 2

Cam Atkinson #13, Columbus Blue Jackets
Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Dallas Stars

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 161

Career Leader: Dino Ciccarelli – 14

Season Leader: 8 Players – 3

Detroit Red Wings

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 265

Career Leader: Gordie Howe – 19

Season Leader: Frank Mahovlich (1968-69) – 4

Edmonton Oilers

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 201

Career Leader: Wayne Gretzky – 43

Season Leader: Wayne Gretzky (1981-82, 1983-84) – 10

Florida Panthers

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 60

Career Leader: Pavel Bure – 10

Season Leader: Pavel Bure (1999-00, 2000-01) – 4

Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers - NHL Hat Tricks History
Pavel Bure was only a Florida Panther for two full seasons yet remains their career leader in hat tricks with 10, double the next highest total. (Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart/Getty Images/NHLI)

Los Angeles Kings

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 188

Career Leader: Marcel Dionne – 19

Season Leader: Jimmy Carson (1987-88) – 5

Minnesota Wild

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 33

Career Leader: Marian Gaborik – 9

Season Leader: Marian Gaborik (2002-03), Zach Parise (2015-16) – 3

Montreal Canadiens

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 384

Career Leader: Maurice “Rocket” Richard – 26

Season Leader: Joe Malone (1917-18) – 7

Nashville Predators

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 44

Career Leader: Filip Forsberg – 6

Season Leader: Filip Forsberg (2015-16, 2016-17) – 2

Filip Forsberg Nashville Predators
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

New Jersey Devils

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 91

Career Leader: Patrik Elias – 8

Season Leader: Kirk Muller (1987-88), John MacLean (1988-89), Patrik Elias (2000-01) – 3

New York Islanders

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 190

Career Leader: Mike Bossy – 39

Season Leader: Mike Bossy (1980-81) – 9

New York Rangers

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 274

Career Leader: Bill Cook – 9

Season Leader: Tomas Sandstrom (1986-87) – 4

Ottawa Senators

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 66

Career Leader: Daniel Alfredsson – 8

Season Leader: Marian Hossa (2002-03), Dany Heatley (2006-07) – 3

Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa Senators
Daniel Alfredsson had eight regular season hat tricks in his career, all with the Ottawa Senators and two more than anyone else in Senators history. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Flyers

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 184

Career Leader: Tim Kerr – 17

Season Leader: Tim Kerr (1984-85) – 5

Pittsburgh Penguins

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 229

Career Leader: Mario Lemieux – 40

Season Leader: Mario Lemieux (1988-89) – 9

San Jose Sharks

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 73

Career Leader: Jonathan Cheechoo – 9

Season Leader: Jonathan Cheechoo (2005-06) – 5

Seattle Kraken

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 1

Career Leader: Jordan Eberle – 1

Season Leader: Jordan Eberle (2021-22) – 1

St. Louis Blues

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 167

Career Leader: Brett Hull – 27

Season Leader: Brett Hull (1991-92) – 8

Tampa Bay Lightning

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 62

Career Leader: Steven Stamkos – 10

Season Leader: Wendel Clark (1998-99) – 3

Toronto Maple Leafs

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 322

Career Leader: Darryl Sittler – 18

Season Leader: Reg Noble (1917-18), Babe Dye (1924-25), Darryl Sittler (1980-81) – 5

Vancouver Canucks

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 141

Career Leader: Tony Tanti, Markus Naslund – 10

Season Leader: Petri Skriko (1986-87) – 4

Vegas Golden Knights

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 9

Career Leader: William Karlsson – 3

Season Leader: William Karlsson (2017-18) – 2

Washington Capitals

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 145

Career Leader: Alex Ovechkin – 28

Season Leader: Dennis Maruk (1980-81, 1981-82), Peter Bondra (1995-96), Alexander Semin (2010-11), Alexander Ovechkin (2019-20) – 4

Alex Ovechkin scoring his 700th goal
Alex Ovechkin became the Washington Capitals’ franchise leader in regular season hat tricks in 2017-18 with 20 after he added three to his total during the season. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Winnipeg Jets

Number of Hat Tricks in Franchise History: 60

Career Leader: Ilya Kovalchuk – 11

Season Leader: Ilya Kovalchuk (2007-08), Patrik Laine (2016-17, 2018-19) – 3

Postseason Hat Tricks

Most in a Career

10 – Wayne Gretzky

The career leader in postseason goals and points with 122 and 382, respectively, it’s only fitting that Gretzky has the most playoff hat tricks as well. He was unbelievable in the postseason, averaging .59 G/G, just behind his .60 average for the regular season, had six postseasons with at least 10 goals, five with 30 or more points, and four with multiple hat tricks.

He had seven playoff hat tricks with the Oilers, two with the Rangers, one as a member of the Kings, and also had a postseason hat trick in the WHA. His most famous one occurred with the Kings in Game Seven of the conference finals against the Maple Leafs when he had a point in four of his team’s five goals with three goals and an assist.

7 – Jari Kurri

Gretzky’s long-time teammate Jari Kurri occupies the second spot on this list, again fitting, as he’s third all-time in postseason goals and points with 106 and 233, respectively. He had five postseasons with 10-plus goals and led the league four times in the category. All seven of Kurri’s playoff hat tricks occurred with the Oilers, including four in 1985. He had back-to-back three-goal games on May 14 and 16 that year in the conference finals against the Black Hawks.

Jari Kurri #17 of the Edmonton Oilers
Jari Kurri (17) had a higher goalscoring average in the postseason than in the regular season and was instrumental in the Edmonton Oilers winning five Stanley Cups. He led the postseason in goals four of the five years they won Cups. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

7 – Maurice “Rocket” Richard

Richard won eight Stanley Cups in his career, all with the Canadiens. He had seven postseason hat tricks in his career but only multiple in one year, 1944. He registered at least one hat trick in five of the postseasons that resulted in Stanley Cups: 1944, 1953, 1956, 1957, and 1958. He was the playoff leader in goals five times and scored four or more goals in a game three times in the playoffs. That included a five-goal effort on March 23, 1944 in Game 2 of the opening series against the Maple Leafs.

6 – Dino Ciccarelli

If you didn’t grow up watching Dino Ciccarelli play, it’s easy to overlook just how good he was. He scored 608 regular season goals, 18th all-time, and added 73 in the playoffs, 13th all-time. In fact, his goalscoring rate increased in the postseason, from .49 G/G in the regular season to .52 G/G in the playoffs. He had six hat tricks in the postseason but never multiple in a year. He had two hat tricks each with the Minnesota North Stars, Capitals, and Red Wings.

Dino Ciccarelli Red Wings
Dino Ciccarelli, Detroit Red Wings, March 20, 1996 (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)

5 – Mike Bossy

Bossy’s prolific goalscoring carried over to the postseason with 85 goals, sixth-most in history, in 129 games, tied for 163rd all-time. That .66 G/G average in the postseason is second only to Lemieux. Bossy led the postseason in goals three straight years between 1981 and 1983 with 17 goals each and had four postseasons with 10-plus goals. He had five playoff hat tricks, including three in 1983 when the Islanders won the final Stanley Cup of their dynastic run. He had four goals in the series-clinching Game Seven of the conference finals against the Bruins.

Most in a Single Postseason

4 – Jari Kurri (1985)

Kurri paced the 1985 Playoffs with 19 goals alongside 12 assists in 18 games en route to helping the Oilers defeat the Flyers in five games in the Stanley Cup Final. He had four hat tricks that postseason, one in the conference semifinals and three in the conference finals.

His semifinal hat trick was against the Jets on April 25 when he tallied three goals and one assist. His three conference finals hat tricks were against the Black Hawks between May 7 and 16. He had a standard three-goal hat trick on May 7 and registered back-to-back ones with three goals and two assists on May 14 and four goals on May 16.

3 – Mike Bossy (1983)

Like Kurri, Bossy’s hat tricks during the 1983 Playoffs resulted in his team winning the Stanley Cup. For Bossy and the Islanders, it was their fourth in a row. He had 17 goals and 26 points in 19 games and, again like Kurri, one of Bossy’s hat tricks was in the conference semifinals against the Capitals on April 10 and the others occurred in the conference finals against the Bruins. One was on May 3 and the other on May 7 with four goals. That year, he also scored the Cup-winning goal in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers.

3 – Mark Messier (1983)

Mark Messier’s Oilers were ousted in the Cup Final against Bossy’s Islanders but it wasn’t due to Messier, who had 15 goals and 21 points in 15 games that postseason. He had four career postseason hat tricks with three in 1983, two in the conference semifinals and one in the conference finals. His semifinals hat tricks were against the Flames on April 14 and 17 with a combined seven goals. His conference finals hat trick occurred against the Black Hawks on April 26.

Most in a Career – Active

3 – Sidney Crosby

There were almost 10 years between Sidney Crosby’s first postseason hat trick in 2009 and his most recent in 2018. His first was in the conference semifinals against the Capitals on May 4, a game in which both he and Ovechkin netted three goals and Crosby’s Penguins lost 4-3. His most recent hat trick was in a 7-0 rout of the Flyers in the opening round of the 2018 Playoffs on April 11. Sandwiched in between those was a May 17, 2013 hat trick against the Senators in the conference semifinals. Crosby also has 10 regular season hat tricks.

2 – Sean Couturier, Jake Guentzel, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Evgeni Malkin, Patrick Kane, David Krejci, Jeff Carter, Nathan MacKinnon, Evander Kane

Sean Couturier – April 13, 2012 vs. Pittsburgh; April 22, 2018 vs. Pittsburgh

Jake Guentzel – April 16, 2017 vs. Columbus; April 22, 2018 vs. Philadelphia

Jean-Gabriel Pageau – May 5, 2013 vs. Montreal; April 29, 2017 vs. NY Rangers

Evgeni Malkin – May 21, 2009 vs. Carolina; April 28, 2014 vs. Columbus

Patrick Kane – May 11, 2009 vs. Vancouver; June 8, 2013 vs. Los Angeles

David Krejci – May 25, 2011 vs. Tampa Bay; May 8, 2013 vs. Toronto

Jeff Carter – May 14, 2012 vs. Phoenix; May 21, 2014 vs. Chicago

Nathan MacKinnon – May 19, 2021 vs. St. Louis; May 25, 2022 vs. St. Louis

Evander Kane – May 6, 2022 vs. Los Angeles; May 22, 2022 vs. Calgary