Even more rare than the traditional hat trick in which a player scores three goals in a game is the elusive Gordie Howe hat trick, in which a player scores a goal, records an assist, and engages in a fight in the same game.
Predators forward Filip Forsberg has had two-thirds of the Gordie Howe hat trick dozens of times in his career, but the high-scoring left winger usually does it with a goal and an assist. But in Nashville’s March 23 game against the Detroit Red Wings, Forsberg came up an assist shy of the Howe.
To the surprise of no one, Forsberg scored the only goal in the Predators 1-0 win against the Wings. But to the surprise of many, Forsberg also dropped the gloves in the game and threw hands with Detroit’s Moritz Seider early in the game’s second period.
With both teams competing for wild card berths in their respective conferences, emotions were high in the game and two players not known for their pugilism found themselves trading punches with one another.
It was the third fight of Forsberg’s career and Seider’s first.
In this case, past fighting experience did not seem to matter. After both players landed a couple of punches, Seider took control of the bout and got the better of Forsberg.
“Sometimes you’ve got to do that,” Forsberg says. “Obviously, I pick my times for sure. I started out decently but then he took over. I probably lost.”
Forsberg last fought Feb. 15, 2020, against Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues. Schenn, now the Blues’ captain, is the brother of current Predators defenseman Luke Schenn. Forsberg also recorded an assist in that game but fell a goal short of the Howe.
The common refrain among Forsberg’s teammates and head coach was that they appreciated the effort, but they hope they don’t see him do it again.
“I wish he wouldn’t, but you’ve got to appreciate the emotion he has and the care he has in our group,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette says. “He’s willing to do anything for our team.”
As the team’s leading scorer, the Predators need Forsberg on the ice, not sitting in the penalty box for the requisite five minutes that accompany a fighting major penalty. Worse yet, the potential for injury in hockey fights is way too much of a risk for a player like Forsberg.
“Great job by him stepping up and getting the crowd and getting the boys into it,” Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie says. “We’re probably not going to want to see Fil drop them too often. Keep those mitts on for him.”
In the end, Forsberg did what he’s paid to do, he kept his gloves on and scored the game-winning goal.
“He hung in there and he got the last laugh with a big goal for us,” Brunette added.