It took Milan Lucic just over 12 minutes to score three goals in the third period of Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Lucic's third career hat trick propelled the team to a 4-2 win over the Sharks helping them keep pace with the Anaheim Ducks for top spot in the Pacific Division.

It was a big night for Lucic, who pushed his goal-scoring streak to three games while hitting his highest regular-season total in three years. As for the hat trick coming in a single period, that was a bit of an oddity for him.

"First time I've scored three in one period that's for sure and when it's one of your nights it's one of your nights," Lucic told Sportsnet's Gene Principe postgame.

Nevertheless, the Oilers will take it. They'll also hope to see more of it, as with just a single point over their next two games, they can guarantee home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Move over, Grant Fuhr.

With a victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night, Cam Talbot earned his 41st win of 2016-17 to establish an Edmonton Oilers record for most in a single regular season.

The win came in Talbot's 72nd appearance of the season, and put the Oilers two points up on San Jose for second place in the Pacific Division.

Talbot owes Milan Lucic a dinner after the rugged winger recorded a natural hat-trick to help propel the Oilers to the goalie's historic win.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Ritchie may find himself in hot water with the Stanley Cup Playoffs quickly approaching.

The Anaheim Ducks forward was assessed a match penalty after dropping a defenseless Michal Rozsival with a punch to the face during Thursday's game against the Blackhawks.

Rozsival earned a minor for cross-checking Corey Perry, an act that drew the disproportionate reaction from Ritchie.

A call from the NHL's Department of Player Safety may be forthcoming.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That's one way to redeem yourself after taking a penalty.

Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman left the box, took a breakout pass, and managed to beat Ben Bishop on a rare breakaway opportunity during Thursday's game against the Kings.

The goal was Wideman's fifth in 56 games this season.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock was understandably disappointed after the Toronto Maple Leafs squandered a chance to clinch a playoff berth Thursday night.

"We made it way harder than it should (have been)," the head coach told reporters after the 4-1 win by the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "We didn't play like we normally do."

The Leafs never led in the game, which ultimately kept Tampa Bay's playoff hopes alive, moving them within three points of Toronto for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

"We never established the game we normally play," Babcock said. "We got to go back to the drawing board and get re-energized."

Morgan Rielly also lamented the missed opportunity.

"We knew what was at stake," the defenseman said. "We didn't do our job. Not very pleased with the game and it just puts more pressure on the next one."

James van Riemsdyk took a more optimistic view.

"We're in a good spot," the Leafs forward said. "Great spot, actually. We control our own destiny still ... we'll be ready to go for Saturday."

Toronto hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins that evening in their penultimate regular-season game before Sunday's clash with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Both the Lightning and the New York Islanders sit three points back of the Leafs with two games to play.

The Islanders will play the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, then the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. The Lightning travel to Montreal to face the Canadiens on Friday night, then host the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday in their regular-season finale.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand is sending some mixed signals in regards to a spear on Tampa Bay's Jake Dotchin that resulted in a two-game suspension.

Speaking prior to Thursday's game against Ottawa - an eventual loss that Marchand missed as a result of the suspension - the Boston Bruins winger acknowledged the play was selfish and undisciplined, and he now has no choice but to live with the decision and do all he can to get ready to help his team in the playoffs.

Still, he left some room for doubt as to whether he's finally learned his lesson.

"Things happen quick out there," Marchand told reporters, courtesy of NESN. "If any of you have ever been out there in the NHL on the ice, you realize how quick things happen. Until you're in that position, you don't really understand."

Marchand clearly doesn't care all that much what people think of his failure to stay in line.

"I'm not really concerned about how anyone feels outside of the room. Things happen in hockey, and again, the only people I care about in this world are my teammates and my family, and I think they have different thoughts about me. Everyone's entitled to their opinion."

Marchand will be eligible to return for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where his absence would be more deeply felt.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Galloway's night ended less than four minutes into the game between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.

The linesman was struck by Martin Hanzal's attempt to keep the puck in near the blue line early in the first period.

Galloway didn't emerge for the start of the second period, and an NHL official said he was getting precautionary tests but was "OK," according to the Star Tribune's Michael Russo.

Another league official later told Russo that Galloway suffered a jaw injury and was taken to a local hospital, but the severity was unknown.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks are breathing a sigh of relief.

This after rookie forward Ryan Hartman was the victim of a post-whistle slash from Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks, one that appears to have not caused serious injury.

The incident wasn't caught in real time, with the only replay coming from a bird's eye view:

Forced to leave the game in obvious pain, Hartman was able to return for the start of the second period. Still, the NHL's Department of Player Safety may take another glance at the incident.

Hartman entered the game with 19 goals in 74 games for the Blackhawks.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.