Hats Off! Capitalsâ Erik Gustafsson Scores First Career Hat Trick Vs. Maple Leafs
Photo: @Capitals/Twitter Washington Capitals defensemen Erik Gustafsson scored his first career hat trick Saturday night as the team hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena. Gustafsson became the third blueliner in franchise history to score a hat trick. ⊠Continue reading â
Photo: @Capitals/Twitter
Washington Capitals defensemen Erik Gustafsson scored his first career hat trick Saturday night as the team hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena. Gustafsson became the third blueliner in franchise history to score a hat trick.
His first goal of the night marked his first of the season and first as a Capital, which came midway through the opening frame off assists from left-wing Sonny Milano (9) and fellow defensemen John Carlson (12) to make it a 1-0 game.
Washington grabs an early lead with a goal from Gustafsson scoring on ex-Cap Ilya Samsonov.
1-0 @Capitals #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ldJAnmpuJT
â NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 18, 2022
Gustafsson (2) would pot another just 2:51 into the second period, extending, 3-1, the Capitalsâ lead. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov (20) and Milano (11) assisted.
Gustafsson AGAIN!?!! Caps defense is leading the charge here tonight vs. Toronto!@Capitals up 3-1#CapsLeafs pic.twitter.com/oeAVneMKDJ
â NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 18, 2022
He would complete his first career hat trick at the 3:47 mark of the final frame as Washington held a 5-2 lead. Kuznetsov (21) and center Aliaksei Protas (4) had the helpers.
When Captain Ovi says throw the hats YOU THROW THE HATS
A hat-trick for Gustafsson!!!@Capitals up 5-2 pic.twitter.com/poCBwPD8mP
â NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 18, 2022
Caps faithful threw hats celebrating Gustafssonâs first hat trick in his NHL career.
A bucket full of hats thanks to Erik Gustafssonâs hat trick !
#CapsLeafs #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/QxQbglZmVyâ Al Koken (@RealSmokinAl) December 18, 2022
Per Mike Vogel, Gustafsson is the first Capitals defenseman with a regular-season hat trick since Sergei Gonchar vs. Montreal at Capital One Arena on January 4, 2000. Additionally, tonight marked Gustafssonâs second career multi-goal game (also February 2, 2019, at Minnesota as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks).
It marks the 147th regular season hat trick in franchise history.
â CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 18, 2022
Gustafsson is just the second defensemen in the NHL to record a hat trick this season (Erik Karlsson: November 1 vs. Anaheim).
â Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 18, 2022
By Della Young