Vatrano’s Hat Trick leads Ducks to win over Avalanche

via Bruce Bennet/Getty Images/AFP

The Anaheim Ducks have been one of the worst teams in the NHL this season and are a front-runner to win the NHL Draft Lottery later in the season. Despite this, they pulled out a shocking win on Thursday night against defending Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche powered by 28-year-old forward Frank Vatrano’s hat trick.

Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen helped the Avalanche get off to a hot start when he scored to give them the lead less than four minutes in. The Ducks would respond just six minutes later when Vatrano scored his first of the game to tie the game at one. That would send the game into the first intermission with a score of 1-1.

Just over a minute into the second period Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard scored to give the Avalanche back the lead. The Ducks would fall into a bigger hole when Mikko Rantanen scored his second goal of the night on the powerplay to give Colorado a 3-1 lead. Anaheim would fight back and cut the deficit in half with about a minute in a half left in the second period when Vatrano scored his second goal to send the game into the second intermission with the Ducks trailing 3-2.

Anaheim’s comeback efforts would pay off just under ten minutes into the third period when veteran forward Adam Henrique scored to tie the game at three. The Ducks would not stop there as just thirty seconds later Mason McTavish, a front runner for rookie of the year, scored to give Anaheim a 4-3 lead.

Late in the game, Colorado would pull their goalie in an effort to tie the game but with just 50 seconds left Vatrano put it into the empty net to complete the hat trick and give Anaheim a 5-3 lead. They would go on the win by that score.

Despite the win, Anaheim will likely still finish near the bottom of the standings, but this win should make their fans excited for the future. They will look to carry this momentum into their game on Saturday night against the Arizona Coyotes.