Players of the Night:
Evander Kane, San Jose Sharks: It took him 565 NHL games and three teams, but Kane now has his first NHL hat trick. Then he made sure to grab his first four-goal NHL game for the hell of it. Kane has five goals and 10 points in eight games since the trade deadline, the most of any player dealt this year on deadline day.
Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators: Hoffman had an assist in regulation and then one-timed his fifth game-winning goal of the season in overtime to help the Senators past the Dallas Stars.
Nashville Predators: For no other reason than they claimed first blood in a 4-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot.
Highlights of the Night:
Bravo, Johnny:
Johnny Gaudreau: maybe a wizard? pic.twitter.com/YtHrZLOYEq
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) March 17, 2018
Kane’s hat trick goal:
THE HATTY FOR @evanderkane_9!
— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) March 17, 2018
(And it’s still the 2nd period)#SJSharks lead 4-3 pic.twitter.com/DDZK7befT0
Hoff’d:
.@MHoffy68 nets the OT winner! pic.twitter.com/SdHZNew6Gn
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) March 17, 2018
Tic-tac-goals:
Passing perfection leads to a @tseguinofficial goal. pic.twitter.com/q4Vqyi1VlM
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) March 17, 2018
Factoids of the Night:
In his eighth game with the @SanJoseSharks, @evanderkane_9 scored four times to match the franchise record for most goals in a game. #NHLStats #SJSvsCGY pic.twitter.com/Qnyn2JTS5f
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 17, 2018
Tyson Barrie is the fifth different defenseman in @Avalanche / Nordiques franchise history to record at least one point in 9+ consecutive team games. #NHLStats #NSHvsCOL pic.twitter.com/K16C4vB1eG
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 17, 2018
Most OT goals, #Sens history
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 17, 2018
Mike Fisher 7
Mike Hoffman 6 (including tonight)
Erik Karlsson 5
Kyle Turris 5
Scores:
Senators 3, Stars 2 (OT)
Capitals 6, Islanders 3
Predators 4, Avalanche 2
Sharks 7, Flames 4
Ducks 4, Red Wings 2
Wild 4, Golden Knights 2
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck