Darryl Sutter’s First NHL Hat Trick Includes Two Shorthanded Goals vs. Oilers (1981)
Darryl Sutter’s first NHL hat trick came in unforgettable style on October 18, 1981 at Chicago Stadium. The Chicago Blackhawks forward scored three goals against the Edmonton Oilers, including two while shorthanded.
After Wayne Gretzky opened the scoring early for Edmonton, Sutter tied the game just minutes later with his first goal of the season on Andy Moog. Later in the first period, he struck again while killing a Denis Savard penalty, scoring a shorthanded goal to even the game at 2-2.
The hat trick was completed late in the third period. With Chicago protecting a one-goal lead and killing another penalty, Edmonton pulled Moog for the extra attacker. Sutter fired the puck the length of the ice into the empty net, his second shorthanded goal of the night, to seal the victory.
Sutter finished the game with eight shots on goal and recorded the first of three hat tricks in his NHL career. Wayne Gretzky led the Oilers with four points, while Doug Wilson added a goal and two assists for Chicago.
