Hat Trick Hysteria Has Invaded The NHL At An Alarming Rate

The Buffalo Sabres were the story across the NHL in December and early January, and they haven’t quite faded thanks to some stellar performances from their stars. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin recorded hat tricks for Buffalo on January 15th and 27th, respectively. Their performances are helping keep the Sabres alive in a tight Atlantic Division race that could very well last until April. 

Dahlin has been the face of Buffalo since he was drafted in 2017, and he took that in stride during his performance on Tuesday. The defenseman recorded his first career hat trick during the Sabres’ 7-4 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the seventh defenseman in franchise history to achieve the feat. Dahlin’s ability to contribute to the team offensively has given them new life in 2025-26, and it will only become more valuable the deeper the season gets.
 
Thompson’s ninth-career three-goal game tied Dave Andreychuk for the fourth-most in franchise history, a stellar mark for the newly appointed Olympian. Thompson has been a huge reason Buffalo is in contention as January comes to an end, a pace of play he hopes to keep up as the team pushes towards the postseason.

Edmonton Oilers Duo Tally Hat Tricks On Consecutive Days

The Edmonton Oilers are the only team to have three players record a hat trick in 2026, with Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard, and Matthias Ekholm accomplishing the feat. While McDavid’s 14th career hat trick tied him for the fourth-most among active players and aided his Hart Trophy campaign, it was Bouchard and Ekholm who made headlines. 

The blue line duo became the first defensemen duo in NHL history to record hat tricks in consecutive games. Bouchard recorded his first hat trick against the Washington Capitals, a game in which he also recorded six points. The performance marked the fourth time in franchise history that a defenseman tallied six or more points, allowing Bouchard to etch his name alongside some Oilers legends.

Mika Zibanejad Is The Only Player To Record Two Hat Tricks In 2026

Mika Zibanejad has been one of the few bright spots for the New York Rangers amidst a year full of challenges. His play hasn’t suffered despite the struggles faced by the Rangers, which has been on display multiple times this month. The center’s first hat trick of the month came in the highly regarded 2026 Winter Classic in Miami, FL, when New York bested the Florida Panthers 5-1. 

Zibanejad has been one of the best players on a Rangers team that has expressed its desire to rebuild. Given the team’s recent history, it’s very possible that the veteran will become one of the players on the trade block after the Olympics. Zibanejad is more than helping his case for a trade, too. His January 17th hat trick made him the only player to repeat the feat this month, an asset that could be used by plenty of teams down the stretch.

End Of My Hat Trick Rant

Hat tricks are exciting, no matter who scores them, and hockey fans have been spoiled with them to start 2026. With 29 different instances in 28 days to start the new year, hat tricks are more prevalent than ever, which is great for both the players and fans. 

To see so many means that the game is elevating itself mid-season, which could make for some great competition as teams enter the stretch run post-Olympics. If the hat trick trend continues, we could be in for a great finish to the regular season and even better postseason.