DENVER — In keeping with hockey tradition, a tip of the cap to honor Alex Ovechkin and Patrik Laine .
They’ve each recorded a hat trick of hat tricks this season.
Easy as one, two, three. Or so it may seem.
Around the league, there have been 61 hat tricks through the first 770 games of the season — the most since 1995-96 (62), according to research by the NHL stats and information department. Leading the surge are Ovechkin of Washington and Laine of Winnipeg with three each.
Hold on to your hat, there’s more: There has been at least one three-goal scorer in 10 of the 13 days leading into to the All-Star break.