Unprecedented Defensive Dominance! In a display of offensive firepower rarely seen from the blue line, the Edmonton Oilers have etched their names in NHL history with back-to-back hat tricks from their defensemen. This remarkable achievement has left fans and analysts alike buzzing.
It all started on Saturday when Evan Bouchard notched his very first career hat trick. His teammate, Mattias Ekholm, was among the first to celebrate, perhaps not anticipating that he would be the next to achieve such a rare feat. As Ekholm himself quipped, "I’m usually not known for my goal-scoring ability. Couldn’t buy a goal for 20 games. So that tells you the story."
And what a story it became! Just two days later, on Monday, it was Mattias Ekholm's turn to shine. Playing in his 938th regular-season NHL game, Ekholm potted three goals, playing a crucial role in the Oilers' 7-4 victory over the visiting Anaheim Ducks. This incredible performance cemented a place in the record books for the Oilers, making them the first team in NHL history to have a defenseman record a hat trick in consecutive games.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch described the feat as "pretty remarkable," noting the low odds of such an event occurring and expressing his excitement for Ekholm. He highlighted Ekholm's consistently good play and the team's collective happiness for his success.
But here's where it gets interesting: Ekholm, now in his fourth season with the Oilers, has become a cornerstone of the team. In the 2023-24 regular season, he posted career highs with 11 goals and 45 points over 79 games, further contributing five more goals and points en route to the Stanley Cup final. His teammate, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, praised Ekholm's reliable play, stating, "You know what you’re gonna get from him. And usually it’s hard to play against. He’s going to make really good first plays and jump into the rush when he can, but he’s going to be tough to play against every night."
And this is the part most people miss: Ekholm entered Monday's game having gone 22 appearances without scoring. His scoring drought ended dramatically at 6:28 into the second period with a slick give-and-go with Zach Hyman. After receiving a behind-the-back pass, Ekholm wasted no time, firing the puck past the Ducks' goaltender to give the Oilers a 3-2 lead. His second goal came less than two minutes later, a testament to his offensive drive, as he joined the rush and fired a shot into the top corner. The hat trick was completed with just 11 seconds left on the clock, a remarkable empty-net goal from his own goal line after winning an offensive zone faceoff. Ekholm himself admitted, "You look at the goals, it’s just trying to join the rush on the first two. And sometimes they just happen, right? There’s no real explanation. It’s not like I changed my game overnight to then obviously score a hat trick. It’s just one of those things. Some nights you have your bounces go your way and whatnot. And, yeah, I’ll try to enjoy this one, because it’ll probably be my last."
DEFENSIVE QUESTION MARKS: While the offensive fireworks were impressive, the Ducks certainly tested the Oilers in the third period, outshooting them 16-5. Mikael Granlund completed his own hat trick for Anaheim on the power play, cutting the deficit to a single goal. Nugent-Hopkins acknowledged the team's need to tighten up defensively, stating, "Obviously, if we’re going to have success down the road, it’s going to be from the defensive side out. And we know that."
STREAK SNAPPED: This loss also ended the Anaheim Ducks' impressive seven-game winning streak, which had begun on January 10th. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville acknowledged the tough loss but encouraged his team to "take (their) lumps and be excited about the next game." He noted the intensity of their recent games and the quality of the Oilers.
Now, here's a thought to ponder: Is this historic defensive scoring a sign of an evolving offensive game for defensemen across the league, or was it a unique confluence of circumstances? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
