Winnipeg Jets centre Gabriel Vilardi of Kingston, Ontario recorded his first career National Hockey League hat trick on Thursday. He accomplished the feat in a 5-2 Jets win over the Calgary Flames at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In the process, the Jets became the second Canadian NHL franchise to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, following the Vancouver Canucks.
Vilardi’s first goal tied the game at one at 12:59 of the first period on the power-play from Josh Morrissey of Calgary, Alberta and Kyle Connor. Vilardi then put the Jets up 4-2 from defensemen Morrissey and Neal Pionk at 8:44 of the third period, and then closed out the scoring from Sean Monahan of Brampton, Ontario, and Mark Scheifele of Kitchener, Ontario with an all-Canadian goal with one minute and four seconds left in the game.
Vilardi was one of two Canadians to score for the Jets on Thursday. The other was Tyler Toffoli of Scarborough, Ontario. Vilardi was also one of two Canadians on the Jets with a multi-point game. The other was Morrissey with two assists.
Vilardi has 19 goals and 14 assists for 33 points in 41 games. He is a +11 with 10 penalty minutes, 12 power-play points, five game-winning goals, 108 shots on goal, 26 faceoff wins, 21 blocked shots, 14 hits, 17 takeaways, and 11 giveaways.
Winnipeg is currently in third place in the Central Division. They have a record of 46 wins, 24 regulation losses and six losses in extra time for 98 points.
