Anaheim Ducks: Countdown to the Season Opener- Hampus Lindholm
By Ciara Durant
A Game-winning Goal Leads to Lindholm’s First Hat-Trick
Christmas came early for Hampus Lindholm and the Anaheim Ducks on December 21, 2017. For the first time in his four-season career as an Anaheim Duck, Hampus Lindholm scored a hat-trick. Not only did he score his first hat-trick, within the first four minutes of overtime, he scored the game-winning goal.
His first goal came off an assist from Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Getzlaf 8:09 into the first period. Lindholm gained possession of the puck and made his way down the ice after a pass to Ryan Getzlaf. As the play continued, a backhanded pass from Getzlaf connected with Cogliano’s stick. Cogliano shot the puck towards the net, and in an attempt to put the Ducks on the board first, Lindholm gave the puck the extra oomph it needed to make it past the Islander’s goalie, Jaroslav Halak.
The Anaheim Ducks scored the only other goal of the first period, putting them ahead of the Islanders 2-0. However, the Islanders would answer back with a power-play goal early in the second period.
12:36 into the second period, Hampus Lindholm would find his opportunity to score another goal. Ryan Getzlaf entered the faceoff circle, winning the draw against John Tavares. Lindholm saw that as his opportunity to seize the puck. However, instead of going after Lindholm, Tavares stayed with Getzlaf. This gave Hampus plenty of time and opportunity to rocket the puck into the net, giving the Ducks a two-goal advantage.
The game went into overtime when Rickard Rakell tied the game at 18:45 in the third period. The on-ice chemistry between Ryan Getzlaf and Hampus Lindholm during that game was undeniable. The pair banded together once again when Lindholm, after a beautiful pass from Getzlaf, blasted the puck down the ice, making it past Halak, 4:03 into overtime.
The Anaheim Ducks won 5-4 and Hampus Lindholm celebrated the victory of his game-winning hat-trick.