Anthony Mantha's first career hat trick came with a bonus. He avoided losing a friendly three-way competition with his teammates.
Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Andreas Athanasiou challenged each other early in their careers to be the first one to have a three-goal game. Bertuzzi got bragging rights with a three-goal outing on January 12 this season in Minnesota.
Mantha beat Athanasiou to the experience of having hats tossed onto the ice for him in the Detroit Red Wings' 6-3 victory over Boston at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.
"Just happy I didn't lose this competition," he said.