Brunnstrom nets hat trick in debut

by James Mirtle on Oct 15, 2008 9:59 PM CDT Comment 10 comments

Talk about quieting his critics.

Fabian Brunnstrom didn't exactly light the NHL on fire in the preseason, scoring one goal, adding two assists and going minus-3 in six games, and the Stars stuck him in the press box for their first two games of the regular season. Down 0-1-1 and heading into a game against the Predators tonight, however, they deployed their secret weapon.

Brunnstrom scored a hat trick in the game (which Dallas won 6-4), announcing his arrival emphatically despite playing in just more than 14 minutes.

He becomes just the third player in NHL history to score three goals in his debut, joining Alex Smart (1943) and Real Cloutier (1979).

And I was just about to write that there was no clear Calder favourite this season.

The Dallas Morning News' blog has more.
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James. A natural hat trick is three consecutive goals uninterrupted by the opposition's goals. Brunstrom got a hat trick, not a natural hat trick.

by Anonymous on Oct 15, 2008 10:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Based on last year, it just gives him a reputation as a great starter. I'm sure with all the Calder talk he'll drop to not scoring for 30 games and finishing on their 4th line.

Just kidding. Hope the kid does well.

by saskhab on Oct 16, 2008 12:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Didn't he score nine goals last season in Elitserien? He should get there in three games and we can start talking about Elitserien being a threat to NHL. With or without ambulance at their games.

by Anonymous on Oct 16, 2008 3:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm....I always thought thata "natural" hat-trick was 3 goals in 1 period.
Anyone care to settle the debate?

by Anonymous on Oct 16, 2008 7:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat-trick#Hockey

"A natural hat trick is when a player scores either a) a goal in each of the three periods, b) three goals in one period, or c) three of his team's goals in succession in one game, with the one involved player scoring all three goals in a row, without anyone else from their own team, or the opponent's team, scoring a goal in-between."

by James on Oct 16, 2008 7:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Are we really quoting Wikipedia for accuracy?

by BlackCapricorn on Oct 16, 2008 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think wikipedia is conceding that there really is no universal definition of the "natural" hat trick.

I've always held that it was three goals in a row in one period, but I've come to admit that lots of people have their own definitions... although (a) is a new one to me. Generally it's one player, three goals, and some sort of confined time frame.

by Adam C on Oct 16, 2008 10:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm from the camp that thought it was three straight goals in one game, no interruptions by either your players on your own team or the other. Could take more than one period, as long as your name appears three straight times on the score sheet.

by Dean on Oct 16, 2008 10:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Speaking as a Pred fan, I don't want to diminish his hatty last night, but I think I might. I could have scored at least two against that porous Preds D. FB probably is the real deal and as good as he showed last night. But let's let him get a body of work together before we go pick him up off the waiver wire in our fantasy leagues.

by Anonymous on Oct 16, 2008 10:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Real Cloutier's should have an asterisk, given that he was a leading scorer in the WHA for most of that league's existence before joining the NHL. It was technically his NHL debut, but realistically, he was a seasoned pro with years of major-league experience.

by Doogie2K on Oct 16, 2008 1:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs