Thanks to Erasmo Cortez
I love seeing big event nights for players in all sports, such as a no-hitter for a major league pitcher or a basketball player getting a triple double. Imagine how much I enjoyed watching Jay McClement get a hat trick as he and the St. Louis Blues beat the Atlanta Thrashers, 4-3. The best part might have been the fact that McClement had to lead the charge in a come-from-behind victory. I love watching my hockey games in high definition on satalite tv, and I was completely immersed in this match. The Blues looked completely out of it at one point, down 3-1, but they rallied and won it in an overtime shootout.
McClement has never been known as a high powered scorer, being more of a penalty-killer, so for him it had to be great to unload some goals for once. But even more impressive in this young NHL season is the fact that now his hat trick has led the Blues to a 5-0 record on their home ice.
McClement joked after the game that he couldn't even remember the last time he scored, and not to expect a flurry of new hat trick games out of him. Humble to the end, he has led the NHL in the penalty kill, at least for both of the past two years. The new offensive wrinkle just shows some more of his versatility.