Every Connor McDavid Hat Trick: Dates, Opponents & Game Stats
Alright, Oilers fans, let’s talk about one of the most electrifying sights in hockey: Connor McDavid pulling off a hat trick. It’s a moment that sends Rogers Place into a frenzy and has fans scrambling to toss their caps onto the ice. But have you ever wondered just how many times Captain Connor has done it? Or against which teams he loves to light the lamp three times?
In this breakdown, we’re going to do more than just list them. We’re going to walk through every single one of McDavid’s hat tricks, from his first to his most recent. We’ll look at the dates, the opponents, the final scores, and even some of the key assists that made it happen. By the end, you’ll have a complete, chronological guide to one of the most impressive parts of the Edmonton Oilers captain’s incredible resume.
Whether you're settling a debate, prepping for trivia night, or just want to relive some magic, this is your ultimate checklist.
What You Need to Follow Along
Before we dive into the step-by-step list, let’s get a few things straight. You don’t need much, but having this context will make the journey through McDavid’s hat tricks even better.
A Basic Timeline: Knowing the seasons helps. McDavid entered the National Hockey League in the 2015-16 season. We’ll be tracking from there to the present day.
Understanding "The Hat Trick": For our purposes, we’re counting any game where McDavid scores three or more goals. We’ll note the four-goal games (the "sock trick" or "Texas hat trick") when they happen.
Access to Highlights (Optional but Recommended): This list will give you the facts. To truly appreciate the artistry, you might want to have YouTube or the NHL’s video database ready to search the date and opponent. Trust me, seeing these goals is always worth it.
Oilers Fandom: A sense of awe and appreciation for the greatest player of his generation is strongly encouraged.
Ready? Let’s get to the main event.
Step 1: Start at the Beginning – The Rookie Season Breakout
Every story has a beginning, and for McDavid hat tricks, it started sooner than many might think. After an injury-shortened start to his rookie year, he was back with a vengeance.
The First of Many: January 14, 2016
Opponent: Columbus Blue Jackets
Venue: Nationwide Arena (Away)
Final Score: Oilers 5, Blue Jackets 1
The Breakdown: In just his 13th career game, the 18-year-old phenom announced his arrival. He scored his first career goal earlier in the game and wasn’t done, netting two more to complete the trick. The third goal was a beautiful breakaway, a sign of things to come. This game instantly showed that the hype around McDavid was very, very real.
Step 2: Track the Evolution Through the Early Seasons
After the rookie debut, the hat tricks began to stack up, showcasing his growing dominance. This period covers his first Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy wins.
The First at Rogers Place: March 22, 2017
Opponent: Colorado Avalanche
Venue: Rogers Place (Home)
Final Score: Oilers 7, Avalanche 4
The Breakdown: In the home arena during a crucial playoff push season, McDavid put on a show. This was a statement game in what would become his first scoring title and MVP campaign.
The Playoff Hat Trick: April 14, 2017
Opponent: San Jose Sharks
Venue: Rogers Place (Home)
Final Score: Oilers 7, Sharks 0 (Stanley Cup Playoffs, Game 1)
The Breakdown: This wasn’t just any hat trick; this was a playoff hat trick. In his postseason debut, McDavid scored three times, including a shorthanded goal, to lead a dominant Game 1 victory. It remains one of the most iconic moments of his early career.
The Four-Goal Game: February 2, 2018
Opponent: Tampa Bay Lightning
Venue: Amalie Arena (Away)
Final Score: Oilers 6, Lightning 2
The Breakdown: McDavid’s first (and so far only) four-goal game in the NHL. He victimized one of the league’s best teams, showcasing his unstoppable speed and finishing ability on the road.
Step 3: Note the Prime-Year Pile-Up
As McDavid entered his absolute prime, the hat tricks became more frequent. This era is marked by multiple Art Ross Trophies and some of his most jaw-dropping individual efforts.
The Natural Hat Trick: November 14, 2019
Opponent: Colorado Avalanche
Venue: Rogers Place (Home)
Final Score: Oilers 6, Avalanche 2
The Breakdown: McDavid scored three consecutive goals in the second period—a natural hat trick—to blow the game open. It was a masterclass in taking over a game in a single frame.
The 2021 Season Surge: The shortened 2021 season saw two quick ones:
March 3, 2021: vs. Winnipeg Jets (Home). A 4-3 OT loss, but McDavid scored all three Oilers goals.
April 28, 2021: vs. Winnipeg Jets (Away). A 6-5 win where he was simply unstoppable.
The 2022 Art Ross Campaign: En route to another scoring title, he added two more:
January 29, 2022: vs. Montreal Canadiens (Home). A 7-2 win.
April 26, 2022: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Home). A 5-1 win, outdueling Sidney Crosby.
Step 4: Record the Historic 150-Point Season
The 2022-23 season was perhaps McDavid’s most statistically dominant. A hat trick was almost a weekly expectation.
The Record-Setting Pace:
October 26, 2022: vs. Chicago Blackhawks (Home). An 8-2 win to kick off the barrage.
December 13, 2022: vs. Nashville Predators (Home). A 6-3 win.
January 3, 2023: vs. Seattle Kraken (Home). A 7-2 win.
February 7, 2023: vs. Detroit Red Wings (Home). A 5-2 win.
March 30, 2023: vs. Los Angeles Kings (Away). A huge 2-1 win where McDavid scored both Oilers goals in regulation and the OT winner for the trick. An absolute clutch performance.
This season solidified his status as a player who could manufacture a hat trick against any system, in any situation. For a deeper dive into the numbers from this historic year, check out our Connor McDavid stats analysis.
Step 5: Follow the Continued Dominance into the Present
Even after a 150-point season, McDavid hasn’t slowed down. The hat tricks keep coming as he leads Edmonton on deep Stanley Cup runs.
The 2023-24 Season Additions:
December 14, 2023: vs. Florida Panthers (Home). A statement 5-1 win over the eventual Eastern Conference champs.
March 26, 2024: vs. Los Angeles Kings (Home). A 6-1 drubbing of a Western Conference rival.
These games prove that in big matchups, against top competition, McDavid still finds another gear. His legacy as an Oiler great continues to grow with each one. You can see how these moments fit into the broader picture of Oilers playoff series wins in the McDavid era.
Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid
When you’re compiling or discussing this list, keep these pointers in mind:
PRO TIP: Remember the Playoffs. That 2017 hat trick against San Jose holds extra weight. Playoff performance is the ultimate metric, and McDavid delivered in his very first postseason game. It’s a crucial data point in his legacy.
PRO TIP: Note the "How." Was it a natural hat trick? Did it include a power play goal? A shorthanded goal? An overtime winner? These details tell the story of how he took over the game.
COMMON MISTAKE: Confusing the Four-Goal Game. McDavid has numerous three-goal games, but only one official four-goal game (Feb. 2, 2018 vs. Tampa Bay). It’s a unique entry on the list.
COMMON MISTAKE: Forgetting the Team Context. Some hat tricks came in blowout wins (like the 7-0 playoff win), but others, like the 2023 OT winner in LA, were in tight, critical games. The context matters just as much as the stat.
PRO TIP: Link the Assists. Often, Leon Draisaitl is on the other end of these historic goals. Noting the primary assist on a hat-trick goal, especially from 29, adds another layer to the story of the NHL’s most dynamic duo. Their partnership is a key chapter in the history of Oilers captains and McDavid's growing legacy.
Your Connor McDavid Hat Trick Checklist Summary
Here’s your quick-reference, bullet-proof list of every step to account for all of Connor McDavid’s hat tricks. Use this to verify your own list or guide your deep dive.
Begin with the rookie season debut on January 14, 2016, against Columbus.
Log the first home hat trick at Rogers Place on March 22, 2017, against Colorado.
Highlight the crucial playoff hat trick on April 14, 2017, against San Jose.
Flag the special four-goal game on February 2, 2018, against Tampa Bay.
Record the natural hat trick on November 14, 2019, against Colorado.
Capture the two hat tricks in the 2021 season (March 3 & April 28) against Winnipeg.
Add the two from the 2022 Art Ross season (Jan. 29 vs. Montreal, Apr. 26 vs. Pittsburgh).
Document the five-hat-trick barrage of the historic 150-point 2022-23 season.
Follow the continued dominance with the 2023-24 season hat tricks (Dec. 14 vs. Florida, Mar. 26 vs. LA).
Always note the opponent, venue, final score, and any special conditions (OT, PP, natural trick).
And there you have it—the complete, step-by-step guide to every time Connor McDavid has filled the net three times (or more!). It’s a list that gets longer almost every season, a testament to the consistent, breathtaking excellence of number 97. The next time you see the hats fly at Rogers Place, you’ll know exactly where that moment fits in hockey history.
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