Evander Kane's second career hat trick was a first for the Sharks.
The San Jose winger scored three goals in the first period Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center, becoming the first player in franchise history to score a hat trick in the opening 20 minutes.
#SJSharks Evander Kane's hat trick is the first in franchise history to occur before the end of the 1st period.— Darin Stephens (@SharksStats) October 17, 2019
Kane opened the scoring 8:36 into the night, gathering a loose puck in the slot and firing a shot past Hurricanes goaltender -- and former Shark -- James Reimer.
Kane fires in the loose puck to put the Sharks up 1-0 🦈 pic.twitter.com/TUPOYq93JX— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 17, 2019
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The Hurricanes tied the game just over two minutes later, but Kane gave the Sharks the lead once more with a power-play goal. Kane scored his second shortly after Reimer robbed him with a glove save that the winger contended crossed the goal line.
It didn't end up mattering, as Kane capitalized on another loose puck in the slot for his second goal with 2:41 remaining in the first period.
Kane with 2️⃣ in the period pic.twitter.com/J12TBa2rf3— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 17, 2019
Kane scored his third fewer than two-and-a-half minutes after his second. With the Sharks on the power play once more, a wide-open Kane redirected Brent Burns' point shot past Reimer to double San Jose's lead.
FIRST PERIOD HAT TRICK 🎩 pic.twitter.com/kOPMmZ7STl— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 17, 2019
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Kane's three first-period goals were the most the Sharks have scored in a single period all season. The 3-1 advantage they took into the first intermission was just the second lead the Sharks have had after the first 20 minutes all season.
The Sharks probably won't have to wait as long for their next first-period lead as they did for their first first-period hat trick.
