Max Pacioretty Misses Two Penalty Shots, Scores Hat Trick Anyway

Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty became the first player in NHL history to miss two penalty shots in one game. While I can't find the specific record, I'm pretty confident in adding that he's the first player in NHL history to miss two penalty shots in one game while scoring three goals.

A night of mixed emotions for Pacioretty, who now has three penalty shots in his career—all against Roberto Luongo, and all misses. I'm sure he slept fine, as the 5-2 win over Vancouver kept the Habs in the all-important third slot in the Atlantic.

Pacioretty already had a power play goal tallied when he was hauled down from behind at 11:47 of the second. He shot high and wide, but just 1:50 later, it happened again.

"I couldn't believe it," said Pacioretty."I was just trying to catch my breath, wipe down my visor, buy myself a little extra time. That's the last thing I would expect to happen so quickly after my first one."

"On the second one, at that point, I was in my own head. I was tired and I couldn't believe what I was doing. I should have tried the same thing again."

Pacioretty would score again early in the third, the game-winner, and add an empty netter for a hat trick that seemed like the fates were conspiring against it. "If we had lost that game by one goal, I'd be kicking myself in the head," he said.

The game featured a goaltender battle between Luongo and Carey Price, who are vying for the starting gig for Team Canada at the Olympics. Pacioretty, who will be heading to Sochi with Team USA, wouldn't play favorites:

"They're both big goaltenders and I can't beat either of them," he said.