John Carlson Celebrates His First Hat Trick in Ducks’ Victory Against Sharks

Ducks Snap Losing Streak with 6-1 Win Over Sharks, Carlson Shines with First Career Hat Trick

In a decisive performance, John Carlson scored three goals, marking the first hat trick of his 17-year NHL career, as the Anaheim Ducks triumphed over the San José Sharks 6-1 on Thursday night at Honda Center. This victory not only ended the Ducks’ six-game losing streak but also showcased a dominant effort against their Pacific Division rivals.

Joining Carlson in the scoring column, Leo Carlsson, Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano each contributed a goal, while Beckett Sennecke provided two assists. The Ducks quickly established a commanding 4-0 lead, displaying the type of offense needed to secure their first win since March 26.

Carlson, who was instrumental in the Ducks’ resurgence since being acquired at the trade deadline, added two power-play goals in the third period, solidifying his hat trick with just 5:57 remaining in the game. With 12 points in his first 13 games with the team, Carlson has proven to be a vital addition, helping stabilize the Ducks’ defense, which has struggled throughout the season.

Lukas Dostal, despite not recording a shutout, made 16 saves for Anaheim. The Ducks had not recorded a shutout in 160 games since the start of the previous season, which also featured a matchup against the Sharks.

For San José, Shakir Mukhamadullin found the net, while goaltender Yaroslav Askarov stopped 27 shots amid a challenging outing. The Sharks, who are fighting for playoff contention, saw their momentum slightly dented after winning five of their previous seven games.

Carlsson set the tone for Anaheim by scoring just under three minutes into the first period, netting his 28th goal of the season. Carlson would later score his second goal of the game in the first period, firing a shot past the goaltender with Sennecke screening the view.

The Ducks maintained their offensive pressure, with Killorn scoring his 14th goal off a two-on-one rush in the second period. A penalty on San José’s Collin Graf for hooking allowed Carlson to extend the lead on the power play, before Vatrano capped the scoring late in the game with his second goal since December 7.

Next, the Ducks will face off against the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center on Sunday, looking to continue their renewed momentum.