NHL Rink Wrap: Scheifele vs. Gourde; Oilers stay hot; Laine hat trick

When Patrik Laine managed to suit up earlier this season, he was quietly piling up points. He’s racking up numbers in ways that won’t just slip under the radar lately, though.

With a hat trick during the NHL action on Thursday, Laine improved to 16 goals and 31 points in 29 games this season. That Laine hat trick also pushed his point streak to eight games (10G, 6A). During that eight-game point streak, Laine generated multiple goals on four different occasions.

Did someone tell Laine he’s in a contract year?

While Laine generated two-goal games even when things were awkward with John Tortorella, this marks his first hat trick with the Blue Jackets.

This brings up a point that’s been mentioned before. Is Laine heating up so much that maybe a trade could make sense? The Blue Jackets are probably best off losing a ton, and even with this surge, it’s unclear if Laine should stick with the CBJ or go elsewhere.

Wherever he stays, it’s easier and easier to imagine Laine grabbing the big bucks. For a while there, it wasn’t so clear.

Do coast-to-coast goals ever get old? Maybe if you’re allowing them. Anyway, Morgan Rielly pulled offered one up during the Maple Leafs’ win against the Penguins:

Can a goalie ever relax when Trevor Zegras is at what should be an impossible angle? Almost cruel at this point.

Check out Patrik Laine collecting his first Blue Jackets hat trick:

The Canucks ended up winning in OT anyway, but buzzer beaters are fun, and Alexander Barabanov just barely slipped this paper under the deadline.

Tie game!