James Neal of Whitby, Ontario has got off to an unbelievable start for the Edmonton Oilers. On Tuesday, Neal scored four goals in one game and became the first Oilers player in franchise history to score six goals in his first three games as the Oilers beat the New York Islanders 5-2 in Uniondale, New York.
Neal scored two goals in the first period, one goal in the second period and one goal in the third period. At 17:53 of the first period, Neal tied the game at one goal apiece after Derick Brassard gave the puck away. Neal then put the Oilers up 2-1 at 19:29 of the first period on a power play goal from Connor McDavid of Richmond Hill, Ontario and Darnell Nurse of Hamilton, Ontario.
Neal then put the Oilers up 3-1 on a power play goal from Leon Draisaitl and McDavid at 6:31 of the second period. After Zack Kassian of Windsor, Ontario put the Oilers up 4-1, Neal scored from Tomas Jurco and Oscar Klefbom at 6:51 of the third period.
Neal’s two previous goals came in a 6-5 Oilers win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. In his career Neal has eight career hat tricks, but this was his first four goal game. He has previously had four hat tricks with the Pittsburgh Penguins, two with the Nashville Predators and one with the Dallas Stars.
