New Jersey Devils blueliner Simon Nemec became the first National Hockey League defenseman this season to record a hat trick. He accomplished the feat in a 4-3 New Jersey Devils overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. This was the first hat trick in Nemec’s NHL career.
The fact Nemec had a hat trick was a big surprise. That is because he only had one goal in 16 games before scoring three last night.
Inside look at the three goal game
The native of Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia scored New Jersey’s first goal of the game with 15 seconds left in the second period to tie the game at one. Two Swiss players (Nico Hischier of Brig and Timo Meier of Herisau) picked up the assists.
Then with the Blackhawks leading the Devils 3-2, Nemec scored a dramatic game-tying goal with three minutes and 46 seconds left in the third period to tie the game at three goals apiece. Right winger Stefan Noesen of Plano, Texas and Jack Hughes of Orlando, Florida had the assists.
Nemec’s game-winning goal was the overtime winner. It came with one minute and 32 seconds left in the extra period. Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom of Gavle, Sweden (who was the first to congratulate Nemec after he was the game’s hero) and defenseman Luke Hughes of Manchester, New Hampshire (Jack’s younger brother) picked up the assists.
Unlikely hat trick
You could make the argument that Nemec’s hat trick was very unlikely when you consider the fact he is a defensive-minded blueliner who only has nine goals in 104 NHL regular season games. This was Nemec’s third NHL goal of the season and third game-winning goal of his career. It was also Nemec’s second three-point game this season as he had three assists in a 4-3 Devils win over the Colorado Avalanche on October 26.
Nemec’s first game-winning goal was his first NHL goal. It came on December 7, 2023 from Jesper Bratt of Stockholm, Sweden and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler of Zurich, Switzerland at 9:08 of the third period to break a 1-1 tie with the Seattle Kraken in a 2-1 Devils win. Nemec’s second game-winning goal came in a 3-2 Devils win over the Edmonton Oilers on March 13, 2025. Nemec scored from Bratt and Hischier at 8:25 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie.
Leading the Metropolitan
The Devils have a record of 12 wins, four regulation losses and one loss in extra time for 25 points. They lead the Metropolitan Division by three points over the Carolina Hurricanes.
