Cedric Paquette Scores His First Career Hat Trick (Video)

The Tampa Bay Lightning played a phenomenal game tonight as they swiftly defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 and reclaimed their spot at the Top of the Eastern Conference.

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While hockey is most definitely a team sport (and the team as a whole played a tremendous game) there is no denying that the Lightning’s win tonight had a great deal to do with one particular player; Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette.

Paquette’s impact was felt very early on in the game. It was just a little over two minutes into the game when Paquette would score his first goal on Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek.

In his first goal of the night, Paquette would carry the puck to Mrazek’s stick side where he would be met by two Red Wing players who were looking to relieve him of the puck. Thankfully, the Lightning were able to keep it in and send it back to defenseman Jason Garrison.

Garrison does the one thing that we have been looking for more players to attempt this season; a powerful shot from the blue line. While Garrison doesn’t find the back of the net, a well-placed and prepared Paquette is in front of the net and ready for the rebound; which he is easily able to sink past Mrazek.

Cedric Paquette’s second goal of the night was a little later in the period, and just a little bit more exciting if you ask us.

There were just thirty six seconds left in the first period when the goal horn would sound once again. Paquette and left wing Jonathan Drouin were fighting the Red Wings for the puck on Mrazek’s glove side. Drouin is finally able to wrestle the puck free and send it back to Paquette.

Paquette makes his approach towards the net where he is able to totally beat Red Wings center Darren Helm and sink the puck right past Mrazek.

This goal not only gave the Lightning the lead heading into the first intermission, but it gave the Bolts the spark they needed to put their foot on the gas and keep it there for the remainder of the game.

The third goal in Paquette’s tremendous night came just over the halfway point in the second period, and under some pretty interesting circumstances.

The Lightning were on the Penalty Kill as Ryan Callahan sat in the box for two minutes for Boarding Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey. The Red Wings make a really bad turnover in the neutral zone which results in Paquette getting control of the puck.

Paquette heads into a two-on-one situation with Lightning center Brian Boyle and makes shooting the puck into the net look like the easiest job in the world. The sound of the goal horn resonates through the Amalie Arena as the hats rain down on the ice.

We’re not usually one to bring up the past, but in this circumstance we feel it may just be appropriate. It was just about two weeks ago when the Tampa Bay Lightning played the Boston Bruins. As most of you know, there was quite the little tiff between Paquette and Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.

After the game, Brad Marchand decided that he was going to add his two cents to the matter and push the envelope just a little bit further. In fact, one of Marchand’s quotes from his interview went a little something like “He must have forgot we play them three more times. Hopefully he’ll be sent down by then for his sake.”

Well…judging by Paquette’s performance as of late, it appears that it is Marchand that has forgotten that the Bruins play the Lightning three more times this season and that Cedric Paquette will be anxiously awaiting their arrival right here where he belongs; on the Tampa Bay Lightning roster.

What did you think of Paquette’s performance on Thursday night against the Red Wings? Do you think we can look forward to more of the same when the Lightning takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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