Hat tricks rare among Penguins defensemen
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Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Ryan Shea and Erik Karlsson have each recently recorded two-goal games.
During a 5-3 home loss to the New York Rangers on Feb. 23, Shea scored a pair of goals in the third period (which were his first two goals of the season).
Then Karlsson collected two goals and an assist in a 5-4 home overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers. Each of his goals occurred in the second period.
Both players flirted with joining a fairly exclusive club with those offensive displays.
Only three defensemen in franchise history have ever recorded a hat trick and none have done it in nearly 40 years.
Duane Rupp – March 24, 1971
During an 8-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at the Civic Arena, Rupp erupted for the only hat trick of his career as well as 30% of the game’s offense.
He opened the scoring at 5:19 of the first period with a power-play goal then added even-strength goals at 6:22 and 19:52 of the third period. The goaltender he beat all three times was future Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford.
Ron Stackhouse – March 18, 1979
The only hat trick of Stackhouse’s career came in a 5-1 win against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. And all three goals came during power-play sequences.
His first goal came 31 seconds into the second period against goaltender Wayne Thomas. He then struck again at 9:53 of the second.
Stackhouse capped the scoring at 8:52 of the third period.
Paul Coffey – Jan. 29, 1988
The last of Coffey’s five career hat tricks was his only one as a member of the Penguins during an 8-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium.
His first goal against goaltender Bob Mason was a short-handed score off an assist from forward Mario Lemieux 1:37 into the second period.
Darren Pang took over in Chicago’s net for the third period and gave up two goals, both to Coffey at the 3:52 and 10:36 marks.
Coffey wound up with a so-called “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” in this contest as well as he recorded an assist on a power-play goal by forward Dan Quinn in the first period then fought Blackhawks defenseman Dave Manson in the second period.