Six games into his NHL career, forward Pius Suter looks like yet another brilliant find by the Blackhawks’ European professional scouting department.
As the Hawks slammed the Red Wings 6-2 on Sunday, Suter’s hat trick made him their first player since 1933 to score his first three NHL goals in one game.
‘‘I was happy to get the first one, finally; it made it easier,’’ Suter said. ‘‘After the second one, I felt like, ‘Yeah, you need to get the third.’ I had a few chances, and finally it worked out.’’
Before Suter’s eruption, teammate Dominik Kubalik had the NHL’s most recent rookie hat trick, having accomplished it Feb. 27 last season in Tampa, Florida. Fittingly, Suter and Kubalik are the most recent headliners in the Hawks’ long line of European imports.
Suter’s first two goals came from driving to the net hard and finding pucks. But his third was a highlight-reel beauty on which he sniped a shot past Red Wings goalie Jonathan Bernier from the left wing on a two-on-one rush with Patrick Kane.
‘‘Today, [it was] great to see him break through offensively,’’ coach Jeremy Colliton said. ‘‘I love that he was willing to shoot on that two-on-one; a lot of guys are just looking to give it to Kaner. And it was a really good sign that he continues to be a guy to want to make a play himself.’’
The Hawks turned in a strong effort across the board, outshooting the Red Wings 35-27 and pulling away in the third period to complete a two-game series sweep.
‘‘It does a lot,’’ said defenseman Connor Murphy, whose second-period goal turned the momentum permanently in the Hawks’ favor. ‘‘Even more so than the win, [I liked] how we seemed to piece together our game a little better today.’’
