The Best of Daniel Alfredsson: Hat Trick and 1,000 Points
A hat trick and another record setting game for Ottawa's captain.
Daniel Alfredsson did so many things well during his time in Ottawa, had so many bests, and set so many records that it's easy to forget some of the feats that established him as the greatest Senator of all time.
Today's post focuses on one of the more celebrated games of the Alfie's career: his hat trick effort to reach 1,000 points against the Sabres.
With the Sens off to a tough start to the 2010-11 season, Alfredsson scored his second goal of the year on the power play from Erik Karlsson and Sergei Gonchar, staking the Sens to an early lead. It was answered quickly by Sabres forward Tim Connolly and the game was tied at one. Buffalo and Ottawa exchanged goals in the second, but it was Daniel Alfredsson who broke the stalemate midway through the frame with a second goal assisted by Karlsson.
The win was sealed when the captain scored an empty netter, with 22 seconds remaining in the third, completing his hat trick and becoming the 75th player to reach 1,000 points in the NHL. It was the highlight of a frustrating and injury-plagued season for Alfredsson who was predictably modest about the achievement, saying after the game
"It's a big milestone, but it hasn't been on my mind at all with the struggles we've been going through....I got a bit lucky today, but it feels great to get the 1,000 points and win at the same time."