Hats Off! Capitals’ 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. 
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Hats Off! Capitals’ 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.

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.

Gustafsson (2) would pot another just 2:51 into the second period, extending, 3-1, the Capitals’ lead. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov (20) and Milano (11) assisted.

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.

Caps faithful threw hats celebrating Gustafsson’s first hat trick in his NHL career.

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 Gustafsson’s second career multi-goal game (also February 2, 2019, at Minnesota as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks).

Gustafsson is just the second defensemen in the NHL to record a hat trick this season (Erik Karlsson: November 1 vs. Anaheim).

By Della Young