Mattias Ekholm Waited 15 Years for NHL First — and Had the Perfect Line After

Mattias Ekholm waited a long time for his first NHL hat trick — and when it finally happened, his reaction was just as memorable as the milestone itself. Telling a story about a time when he thought he was close once, Ekholm joked that Monday night’s milestone might be the first and last of its kind.

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The Edmonton Oilers defenseman scored three goals in a 7–4 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, recording the first hat trick of his 15-year NHL career. After the game, Ekholm wasted no time poking fun at himself, drawing laughs from reporters.

“I’m usually not known for my goal-scoring ability,” Ekholm said. “I couldn’t buy a goal for 20 games, so that tells you the story. Some nights the bounces go your way. I’ll try to enjoy this one, because it will probably be my last.”

Two days earlier, Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard recorded a hat trick of his own in a win over the Washington Capitals. Together, Bouchard and Ekholm became the first pair of defensemen in NHL history to record back-to-back hat tricks for the same team — an unlikely bit of history fueled by Edmonton’s suddenly red-hot blue line.

Edmonton also happened to get the fastest four goals by defensemen in one game on Monday, when Ekholm, Spencer Stastney, and Darnell Nurse all scored in minutes during the second period.

The Oilers scored four goals in just 3:49, and Ekholm scored twice during that stretch, turning what’s normally a shutdown role into a highlight reel. Ekholm tallied his third goal of the night in the dying seconds of the third on an empty-netter from over 200 ft away.

Ekholm Understands That’s Not Usually His Role

Known for his steady, physical defending and veteran leadership, Ekholm rarely fills the scoresheet. But as Leon Draisaitl noted, the tools have always been there. “Obviously, he has a bomb of a shot, and he knows how to use it,” Draisaitl said.

This isn’t to say that Ekholm can’t provide offense. He’s just well aware that, on his pairing, it’s Bouchard who will be doing most of the scoring, and it’s Ekholm who is supposed to free his partner up to do so.

The hat trick also came with a touch of irony. Ekholm recently mentioned having his kids watch Bouchard’s historic performance — only to steal the spotlight himself days later. Whether his children caught the game remains to be seen, but for one night, Dad was the story.

Ekholm may be right that it never happen again. Still, for the Oilers, it was a reminder that their defense might just be capable of carrying them to another level.

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