Celebrating a Nicklas Backstrom Natural Hat Trick

(Photo via the Caps)

Nicklas Backstrom scored his first regular season hat-trick Saturday (he did it in the playoffs once), tallying the first three goals against Tampa Bay. He’s the first Cap to score three times in a row since Alex Semin did it in 2010, also against Tampa Bay. This will mean Verizon Center’s hat trick display bin will have a new tenant.

Backstrom, on whether he sensed a big day coming: "No, actually I woke up a little grumpy from my nap."

— Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) December 14, 2014

Time to clean up some hats. Backstrom nets 3 in #CapsBolts!

A video posted by Washington Capitals (@washingtoncaps) on Dec 13, 2014 at 6:13pm PST

Hats are waiting for @backstrom19 in the locker room following #CapsBolts https://t.co/hHxqLR3KDz

— Washington Capitals (@washcaps) December 14, 2014

Even a Santa hat made it on the ice in celebration of Backstrom's Hat Trick! #CapsBolts #LetsGoCaps

A photo posted by Washington Capitals (@washingtoncaps) on Dec 13, 2014 at 6:14pm PST

Just a few hats waiting for Nicklas Backstrom in the locker room. #CapsBolts #LetsGoCaps

A photo posted by Washington Capitals (@washingtoncaps) on Dec 13, 2014 at 6:45pm PST

Natural HatTrick for @backstrom19! #CapsBolts pic.twitter.com/3FICm96ukr

— Wes Johnson (@WesJohnsonVoice) December 14, 2014

Well [email protected] fans pic.twitter.com/xR2b5L4eK2

— Hayley Milon (@HayleyMilon) December 14, 2014

Backstrom's hat trick marks the 113th hat trick in #Caps franchise history and the ninth against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 14, 2014

And, Backstrom’s reaction to all of this.

RT @myregularface: coming soon to EPIX: backstrom is thrilled pic.twitter.com/WCQiadXIiO

— jonwarner (@jonwarnerWTOP) December 14, 2014