Rasmus Ristolainen Records First Career Hat Trick

Rasmus Ristolainen has already been making a name for himself among his fellow Buffalo Sabres blueliners as arguably the team’s top young defenseman.

Thursday night, he showed the team and its fans another side of himself: the offensive side.

Ristolainen recorded the first hat trick of his NHL career in Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.

It’s a historic moment, as a Sabres’ blueliner hasn’t recorded a hat trick in over 20 years. The last to complete such a feat was Phil Housley, over two decades ago, in the 1987-88 season.

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Ristolainen’s hat trick was also the first recorded by a Buffalo Sabres player in nearly three years; the last to do it was Thomas Vanek, who had a trio of goals against the Boston Bruins on January 31, 2013.

Adding another layer of impressiveness to the hat trick: Ristolainen did it in a single period. That hasn’t been done by a Sabres player since March 19, 2008 (Vanek).

Ristolainen is now only the sixth defenseman in Sabres history to record a hat trick, and just the second to complete it in one period. (The other: Jerry Korab).

Here’s a closer look at Ristolainen’s three goals from Thursday night’s game. (GIFs courtesy of @myregularface on Twitter.)

Ristolainen’s first of the night – and fifth goal of the season – came on the power-play, just 2:27 into the third period. He scored on a penalty to Calgary’s Sam Bennett, who was serving a minor for interference against Zemgus Girgensons. Sam Reinhart and Ryan O’Reilly notched the assists.

Ristolainen’s second goal, scored just 2:17 after the first, tied the game at one for the Buffalo Sabres. It was, yet again, a power-play goal, scored after – yet again – Sam Bennett was sent to the box, this time for tripping Jack Eichel. Just three short seconds into the power play, Ristolainen tallied his sixth of the season, assisted by O’Reilly.

After Calgary’s Sean Monahan scored to give the Flames the 3-2 lead, Ristolainen tied the game once more on his seventh of the season and third of the night. The assists went to Matt Moulson and Zach Bogosian.

Ristolainen also led the Buffalo Sabres in ice time in Thursday’s game, playing 25:35.

Ristolainen is second on the team in points with 21 on the season, just four shy of O’Reilly. His 14 assists are also second-most behind O’Reilly’s 16. Finally, Ristolainen’s seven goals are fourth-most on the team, behind O’Reilly, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.

Risto’s eight power-play points are second-most on the team, while his average 24:13 time on ice per game is the highest among any Sabres skater.

Next: Ristolainen Emerging Among Sabres D

Ristolainen continues to be one of the Sabres’ top defensemen, night in and night out – and the best part is that he’s still young and has plenty of time for his game to get even better.