Patrick Kane went full “Hatrick” Kane mode once again during the third period of Chicago’s impressive 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night.
Kane worked his hat-trick magic late in the third period and scored two goals in the final 3:08 to net his second hatty in three games and his fourth-career regular season hat-trick. And boy, did he do it in style.
Kane’s third goal might’ve been his best. After barely missing an empty net shot from center ice, Kane tracked down the puck as Pittsburgh tried to exit its own zone and flung a casual no-look, no-angle backhander at the empty net from the right corner. The puck snuck inside the far post and somehow crossed the goal line, sparking a barrage of hats onto the United Center ice.
mattclapp: Another Patrick Kane hat trick NBC Sports Net… NHL Hockey: Penguins at Blackhawks https://t.co/YElcpwomOn pic.twitter.com/anc3Zt7PF4
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) March 2, 2017
But his second goal was pretty too and it wouldn’t have happened without Nick Schmaltz, who made a great move with the puck and slipped a back-handed pass that split two defenders and found a waiting Kane, who buried it past a sprawled out Marc-Andre Fleury.
Schmaltz to Kane pic.twitter.com/2cfzehmnb3
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 2, 2017
Kaner’s first goal was no slouch either. He beat Fleury through the five-hole using a brilliant head fake to freeze the goaltender.
The head fake here by Kane is good stuff pic.twitter.com/Ts38U9E1vK
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 2, 2017
Now, you’d think Kane would have the highlight(s) of the night and earn the No. 1 star, right? Nope! Scott Darling was named the No. 1 star of the game, out-dueling Fleury and making 36 saves in the process. And Kane’s empty-net goal was only the second-best goal of the night.
Richard Panik’s ridiculous goal late in the second period was ultimately the game-winner and also the filthiest.
Nonetheless, Kane will be happy with having his second hatty since Feb. 23 against Arizona. It’s also Chicago’s third hat-trick as a team in four games. Jonathan Toews scored three goals during a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild Feb. 21.
