Hagel, Kane both notch hat tricks in Hawks wild 8-5 win
Think of some of the rarest events in pro sports.
• Hitting for the cycle or throwing a perfect game in baseball. • A quadruple-double in the NBA.
• Throwing for 500 yards or 6 TD passes in the NFL.
They are often once-in-a decade events - and Blackhawks fans witnessed one during their team's 8-5 victory over New Jersey at the United Center on Friday as Patrick Kane and Brandon Hagel recorded the franchise's first double hat tricks in 19 years.
Steve Sullivan and Eric Daze were the last two Hawks to score 3 goals in one game during an 8-5 victory over the Bruins on March 9, 2003. Before that it was Troy Murray and Al Secord on January 1, 1986.
Hats rained down on the UC ice after both hat trick goals. Hagel, who fought Devils defenseman P.K. Subban after Subban tripped him into the net on his final goal, then implored the crowd to unleash one more wave of cheers.
They happily obliged, thrilled to have seen an offensive onslaught and the end to a seven-game home losing streak.
"The crowd was insane tonight," said Hagel, who now has 17 goals. "We needed a game like this. We haven't scored a ton of goals at home this year."
Said Kane, who now has 16 goals: "I can't remember the last time we put up eight. It's a good feeling for the team. ... We know that we have it offensively. Obviously it hasn't been there this year, but we have some pieces that can score."
Kirby Dach and Ryan Carpenter also scored; Alex DeBrincat (3), Seth Jones (3), Caleb Jones (2) had multiple assists; and Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves in his return to net.
The Hawks (19-26-8) went 3-for-4 on the power play, scoring all those goals during a second period in which they built a 4-2 lead. Kane scored at 1:34 and 11:24, then added an empty netter with 1:23 remaining. Hagel opened the scoring at 7:34 of the first period, scored again at 14:09 of the second and also scored an empty netter with 28 seconds remaining.
Hagel crashed into the net just after the puck crossed the goal line. Instead of celebrating, the feisty forward went right after Subban.
"I have a clear-cut breakaway, like what are you going to do?" Hagel said. "It's just a dirty play. It is what it is, I mean he can do what he wants, but it's not going to get you very liked around the league, that's for sure."
Of all the goals, Dach's was probably the biggest as it snapped a 4-4 tie with 5:56 remaining. Dach, who has struggled all season, beat goalie Nico Daws with a neat forehand/backhand move to give the Hawks a 5-4 lead.
"Really nice move to hang onto it," Kane said. "He's got such a long reach. He can really take it from one side of the net to the other and be able to tuck it in like he did. It was a nice move by him."
Carpenter then scored 41 seconds later to make it 6-4.
As for Hagel, he can't believe how far he's come in such a short period of time. The 23-year-old wasn't taken until the sixth round in 2016, grew his game in juniors, spent one season in the AHL and is suddenly a forward that playoff teams are chomping at the bit to acquire.
"It's actually crazy," said Hagel, who played in his 100th game Friday. "Being unsigned, signing up for school. Now here I am, playing 100 games in the NHL (with a) hat trick. It's pretty surreal.
"Obviously thank my parents for that as well. They gave me every opportunity in the world to make it to this level and live my dream. ... It feels really good."