What is a hat trick in hockey and who has the most hat tricks in NHL history?

In hockey, the achievement of scoring three goals in a single game is commonly referred to as a hat trick. All three objectives must be achieved within the designated regulation or overtime. In the 2022-23 season, a mere 96 players scored a hat trick, thereby establishing it as one of the most uncommon achievements within the league.

By comparison, the number of shutouts recorded during the 2022-2023 season amounted to 117, whereas the preceding season witnessed 250 shorthanded goals. In the given year, a total of 8,248 goals were scored, out of which 294 instances of hat tricks were observed.

What is a natural hat trick in hockey?

In the sport of hockey, the achievement of a player scoring three consecutive goals without any opposing team's response is commonly referred to as a natural hat trick. The term "regular hat trick" is used to describe the achievement of a player scoring three goals in a single game, irrespective of how these goals were obtained.

What is a double hat trick in hockey?

Achieving the accomplishment of scoring eight goals in a single game is considered a quadruple, or double hat trick, which is an exceedingly uncommon occurrence in hockey. No player has yet successfully achieved the notable accomplishment of scoring four goals within a single game in the National Hockey League.

Most hat trick in a single season

These entities can be categorized in various manners, such as by club affiliation, individual player, specific season, overall career, regular season performance, and postseason achievements. The following list presents the individuals who have achieved the highest number of hattricks in a single season.

Wayne Gretzky 1981-82 (10)

Twice in his career, Wayne Gretzky achieved ten hat tricks during the 1981–82 season when he set a record 92 goals for the Edmonton Oilers. He scored four times against the Los Angeles Kings on December 27 and five times against the Philadelphia Flyers on December 30.

Wayne Gretzky 1983-84 (10)

Gretzky has 87 goals, second most in NHL history and recorded ten. He scored twice as often as he did in the 1981–82, with 24 games. The first started on January 4 against the North Stars and included four total goals.

Mike Bossy 1980-81 (9)

According to Hockey-Reference's criteria for rate statistics, his career G/G average of 76 ranks first of all time. 1980–81 was the fourth of nine consecutive seasons in which he managed at least 50 goals and topped the league with 68. He accomplished nine hat tricks during that time, including two sets of consecutive ones.

Mario Lemieux 1988-89 (9)

The 1988–1989 season was Mario Lemieux's most incredible in the NHL. With 85 goals, enough for fourth all-time, and 199 points, Lemieux was the only player except Wayne Gretzky to come close to scoring 200 points in a season. He scored 15 times.

Brett Hull 1991-92 (8)

In the 1991–92 season, Brett Hull scored 70 goals and led the league in goals for the third time. While he did not record any consecutive goals, he did have 14 games where he scored two or more goals. Two of his three that season came in three games against the New York Islanders on December 10 and 21.

Most hat tricks by active players in the NHL

Alex Ovechkin is the active leader with 30 hat tricks across his career. Active NHL players with the most hat tricks are listed below.

Alex Ovechkin (28)

Alex Ovechkin has scored more goals than any other player in the league. So it is no surprise that his 28 regular-season records put him at the top of the list for current players and tied for sixth all-time. In the 2007–08, 2008–09, 2017–18, and 2018–19 seasons, he scored three in the 2019–20 season, and he scored four.

Jaromir Jagr (15)

He has participated in 1,700 regular season games, where he has achieved a scoring rate slightly below one per cent. Nevertheless, his most recent goal was recorded during the 2014-2015 season. The Penguins accounted for 10 of his dreams, while the Rangers, Capitals, and Devils contributed 3, 2, and 1 goal, respectively.

Eric Staal (14)

Staal has achieved 441 goals during regular season play and notably emerged as the league leader with four goals during the 2008-09 season. On February 27, he scored one goal against the Blues, accumulating three goals and two assists throughout the game.

Evgeni Malkin (13)

Although not included in the list of the top 100 NHL players in history, Evgeni Malkin holds the second position regarding regular-season hat tricks, trailing only Alexander Ovechkin. Malkin has achieved a hat trick in approximately 1.3% of his games. During the 2011-2012 season, Malkin attained three goals, two of which occurred within 11 days from January 3 to January 14, 2008.

Most hat tricks in a row in the NHL

The NHL record for the highest number of consecutive hat tricks, standing at four, is jointly held by Joe Malone, Mike Bossy, Cy Denneny, and Reg Noble. In three straight games, each participant achieved a score of three. In the 1917-1918 season, Joe scored a hat trick in three consecutive games.

Wayne Gretzky (50)

He has accumulated a total of 50 hat tricks throughout his career, which surpasses the hat trick record of any other player by a margin of ten. He has got ten throughout two seasons.

Mario Lemieux (40)

On April 25, 1989, he achieved five goals against the Flyers and recorded three goals during the playoffs. In addition to the 1988-89 season, he experienced two seasons with six occurrences, one with five events, and two with four events.

He achieved four goals against the Flyers in the regular season during the playoffs, marking the highest number of goals he has ever scored against a single team. On the 20th of March, 1993, he achieved a quadruple score against the Flyers.

Mike Bossy (39)

Bossy holds the highest proportion of games in which he has achieved a hat trick, amounting to 5.2%. Throughout the regular season, he has earned 39 victories across 752 tournaments, with five more successes attained during the playoffs.

Brett Hull (33)

During the regular season, Hull achieved a total of 33 hat tricks. During his professional tenure, he earned a minimum score of three on three instances when competing against the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. During the 2002 playoffs, while competing for the Detroit Red Wings in a match against the Vancouver Canucks.

Phil Esposito (32)

Phil Esposito maintained the record for the highest number of hat tricks throughout his career until Wayne Gretzky surpassed this achievement in 1985. Esposito concluded his career with 32 achievements over 37 years, positioning him as the fifth-highest achiever in history. Out of 130 games, he has achieved a playoff victory on four occasions, accounting for approximately 2.5% of the overall games played.

He achieved seven in a single season and four times in total. During his professional tenure, the Canucks were subject to frequent scrutiny, as he successfully secured five victories against them.

Most hat tricks in a single postseason

Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers scored four postseason hat tricks in 1984–1985. The players with the most hat tricks in the NHL playoffs are listed below.

Jari Kurri (4)

Kurri scored 19 goals and added 12 assists in the 1985 Playoffs, leading the Oilers to a five-game victory over the Flyers in the Stanley Cup Final. He recorded four in those playoffs, one in the semifinals and three in the championship game.

Mike Bossy (3)

Bossy's hat tricks in the 1983 Playoffs helped his team win the Stanley Cup, just as Kurri's had helped his team win in the 1970s. It was the Islanders' fourth consecutive victory under Bossy. In 19 games, he scored 17 times and added 26 assists, just like Kurr.

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Mark Messier (3)

Even though Mark Messier scored 15 goals and 21 points in the playoffs for the Oilers, they were eliminated by the Islanders and Bossy in the Cup Final. In 1983, he scored three hat tricks in the playoffs, including two in the semifinals and one in the championship game.

What is a hat trick in hockey? A hat trick is a remarkable achievement that occurs when a player scores three goals in a single game. Wayne Gretzky has gained the most hat tricks in hockey, with 50 regular hat tricks in his career.

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