Montreal Canadiens left winger Phillip Danault of Victoriaville, Quebec recorded his first career National Hockey League hat trick on Saturday in a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Danault only has five goals all season long, but was able to beat Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marc Andre Fleury of Sorel, Quebec three times during the contest.
Danault scored his first of the game at 3:40 of the first period from Brendan Gallagher of Edmonton, Alberta and Tomas Tatar to put the Canadiens up 1-0. Danault then scored his second goal of the game at 8:10 of the second period from Gallagher and Jordie Benn of Victoria, British Columbia to tie the game at two goals apiece. Then in the third period with 1:25 left, Danault tied the hockey game at three goals apiece as Tatar and Max Domi of Winnipeg, Manitoba picked up the assists. Paul Byron of Ottawa, Ontario then scored the game winning goal at 1:59 of overtime. Domi and Victor Mete of Woodbridge, Ontario picked up the assists.
In 37 games this season, Danault, who originally played for the Chicago Blackhawks, has five goals and 17 assists for 22 points. He is a +5, with 16 penalty minutes, one power play point and 62 shots on goal.
The Canadiens enter the Christmas break in a playoff spot. Expected my many to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Canadiens currently have the seventh best record in the East and are in the eighth seed with 43 points.
