Ottawa Senators centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau of Ottawa, Ontario recorded his third career National Hockey League hat trick on Wednesday. Pageau recorded the feat in a 4-2 Senators win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
Pageau, who leads the NHL right now with a +19 and two shorthanded goals, tied the game at one goal apiece at 14:54 of the first period from Connor Brown of Toronto, Ontario. Pageau then scored the game winning goal with 2:01 left in the third period to break a 2-2 tie. Nick Paul of Mississauga, Ontario and Brown picked up assists. Then, Pageau scored a key insurance marker, unassisted into an empty net with 26 seconds left in the third period to put the Senators up 4-2. Mark Borowiecki of Ottawa, Ontario scored the other goal for the Senators.
Pageau is one of six players this season with two shorthanded goals this season. The others are Vegas Golden Knights right winger Reilly Smith of Mimico, Ontario, Carolina Hurricanes centre Sebastian Aho, Nashville Predators centre Calle Jarnkrok, Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Kasperi Kapanen, and Anaheim Ducks left winger Jakob Silfverberg.
So far in 2019-20, Pageau has 11 goals and four assists for 15 points in 18 games. He has 13 penalty minutes, two shorthanded points, three game winning goals, 45 shots on goal, 19 blocked shots, 23 hits, 139 faceoff wins, nine takeaways and five giveaways.
Pageau leads the Senators in goals, points, plus/minus and game winning goals. He is also tied for the Senators lead in shorthanded points with Vladislav Namestnikov.
Pageau’s first NHL hat tricks came in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The first one came on May 5, 2013 in a 6-1 Senators win over the Montreal Canadiens in game three of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Ottawa beat Montreal four games to one in the best out of seven series. The second hat trick came on April 29, 2017 in a 6-5 Senators win over the New York Rangers in game two of the first round playoff series. Ottawa beat the Rangers four games to two in the best out of seven series.
The Senators are currently in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with a record of seven wins, 10 regulation losses and one loss in extra time for 15 points. They next play host to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday.
