In what was a controversial trade at the time, the Buffalo Sabres acquired forward Ryan McLeod from the Edmonton Oilers this past summer in exchange for former first-round prospect, Matthew Savoie.
In what fans initially deemed as a trade the Sabres lost, McLeod has more than proved his worth as a capable second/third line center, who had made immediate impact. Compared to Savoie, who is unproven and currently playing in the AHL, McLeod has made an immediate impact for the Sabres with his lightning speed on the ice.
A strange first career hat-trick for Sabres center Ryan McLeod
As the Sabres were up 3-2 later versus the Carolina Hurricane, McLeod looked to light the lamp for his third of the game, which would give him his first career hat-trick and 10th goal of the season. As he was going to take the empty-net shot to seal the win for the Sabres, Hurricanes defensemen, Brett Burns slashed McLeod's stick.
Although the puck never officially went in the net, the referees awarded him the goal. This strange occurrence wound up being McLeod's first three-goal game of his career, and was scored technically without the team registering a shot on net in the period.
While there are no statistics speaking as to whether a goal has ever been scored in regulation without an official shot on net, this feat is quite interesting nevertheless. This statistic is definitely one that isn't hear about often and what makes it even cooler, is that McLeod was awarded the hat-trick out of it.
Despite having a mid-season slump after a hot start to the year, McLeod finished the night recording his 24th point of the season in 44 total games played. The first-year Sabre has certainly turned some heads and will continue to look to impress for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. Luckily for Swords fans, McLeod is under contract for next season as well.