Wild big man Jordan Greenway earned his first career Gordie Howe Hat Trick to help the Wild beat the Oilers 6-5 Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.
A Gordie Howe hat trick includes a goal, assist and getting into a fight – something Howe routinely did as a rough-and-tumble player during his career – and Greenway did in the following order: goal, fight, assist.
“It’s good to get my first one I guess,” Greenway said, via Wild.com. “I didn’t expect one honestly. I’ll take it for sure.”
Greenway got the goal out of the way with Minnesota’s first tally of an explosive night in St. Paul, tying the game 1-1 at the 12:35 mark of the opening period. The fight came in the second period as he dropped gloves against Edmonton tough guy Darnell Nurse.
As you’ll see in the fight video, it was Nurse who left the scrap with a bloody lip, although Greenway also took some shots and wound up on his back.
“Darnell Nurse is a pretty tough dude, and I thought he stood in there really well,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. “In today’s game to get a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. That doesn’t happen very often.”
Meanwhile, there was a hockey game happening. Jason Zucker, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Donato all scored to help the Wild build a 4-2 lead going into the third period, but the Oilers struck twice in a span of 2:06 halfway through the final frame, only to have the Wild answer back with two goals in 68 seconds.
Eric Staal made it 5-4 Wild with 4:47 remaining, and then Greenway assisted on Luke Kunin’s goal with 3:39 left. The assist completed the Gordie Howe Hat Trick and proved to be big on what was the decisive goal in the 6-5 victory.
Minnesota (15-12-5) has secured points in 13 of 14 games overall and is 8-0-3 at home since losing the home opener to Philadelphia.
Up next: Wild vs. Flyers, Saturday at 6 p.m.
