October 15, 2014 will be a date that Mikkel Boedker will remember for the rest of his life. This was the night that the Edmonton Oilers traveled to Gila River Arena to take on the Arizona Coyotes, only to be sent home with a loss. The Arizona Coyotes tallied seven goals compared to Edmonton’s four to pick up their second win of the season and improve to 2-1-0 for 2014. Mikkel Boedker contributed to the score sheet with not one, not two, but three goals to earn his first ever career hat-trick in the NHL. It took Boedker 341 games to accomplish this feat as he scored his third, fourth, and fifth goals of the season in merely three games. Boedker scored a career high 51 points last season and is looking to break through that mark this year. Through three games, he has accumulated 6 points so he is well on his way of beating his performance from last year. Below are the three goals that earned him his first career hat-trick.
Goal #1:
Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) scores a power play goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens (30) during a breakaway in the first period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The first goal came off a dump in by the Edmonton Oilers. Mike Smith came out to play the puck and quickly fed it behind the net to Keith Yandle. Yandle fakes the pass to Antoine Vermette only to throw the puck past the Edmonton defense to Boedker who is flying past the benches. Mikkel Boedker is on a breakaway, one on one with Edmonton goaltender Ben Scrivens. Boedker dekes a few times and elevates the puck past the glove of Scrivens to have it bounce off the pipe and in with 11:38 remaining in the first period.
Goal #2:
Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) celebrates after scoring his second goal of the game as Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry (2) reacts during the third period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The second goal was definitely an interesting one. This goal came in 10:53 left in the second period as Shane Doan charges down the neutral zone with the puck. Doan passes the puck to Antoine Vermette near the right faceoff circle and Vermette immediately feeds it to Boedker coming down the slot. Boedker sends a backhand shot down the middle that Ben Scrivens absorbs immediately to what would look like a routine save. However, Scrivens did not have full control of the puck as it continued to slide through his five hole and in the net for Mikkel Boedker’s second goal of the night.
Goal #3:
Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) scores an empty net goal for a hat trick during the third period against the Edmonton Oilers at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Goal number three was the icing on the cake even though there was no one in front of the net. In desperation, the Edmonton Oilers pulled their goalie in hopes of staying alive in this game. The puck bounces around the neutral zone and eventually finds the stick of Mikkel Boedker as he hops off the bench. Boedker speeds down to the net and puts it home for his first ever hat-trick in his NHL career.
Congratulations Mikkel Boedker!