When you win as often as the Nashville Predators have lately, you’re usually enjoying big nights from more than one player.
In Monday’s instance, James Neal was that go-to guy, scoring all three of the Predators’ goals in a 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers.
This marks the sixth hat trick of Neal’s career, but the first of 2015-16.
James Neal: "Are you going to ask me what my favorite memory is at Rexall Place? Because I have one now." #Preds #NSHvsEDM
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) March 15, 2016
Ryan Johansen on James Neal's hat trick: "I had a great view tonight being his centerman, so I had fun watching him.” #Preds
— Brooks Bratten 🍪 (@brooksbratten) March 15, 2016
There isn’t an easy clip with all three goals in one spot, yet the last two are similar enough that it almost (almost) feels appropriate to merely insert two.
Instead, enjoy them in succession.
First, there’s his nice breakaway tally:
James Neal on a breakaway = tie game. #Preds #NSHvsEDMhttps://t.co/UKMs1Wm6CK
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 15, 2016
Prototypical sniper goal, Part. 1:
James Neal's second goal of the evening... maybe you know what's coming up next. 👀 #Preds #NSHvsEDMhttps://t.co/0oeLfg6Gxe
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 15, 2016
His second prototypical sniper goal was the difference-maker, and gave him that hat trick.
🎩🎩🎩 #Preds #NSHvsEDMhttps://t.co/ruDXSmeO7R
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 15, 2016
With the Central Division race still a few strides away, it’s possible that the Predators are merely beefing up their lead for the first wild card spot.
Even if that’s the case, going into the playoffs on a high note is rarely a bad thing, although it won’t help them sneak under the radar against the West’s second seed.