2011-12: Season in Review

  In the 2011-12 NHL season, there were 25 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks, including 2 in the Play-offs.  There were 54 Hat Tricks of the 3 goal variety last season, making the Gordie Howe Hat Trick the rarer event.  If you're in the guessing mood, then try to name all 25 Gordie Howe Hat Trick achievers from the 2011-12 season.  Otherwise, check in after the break.

  Players who achieved a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in 2011-12 range from power forwards, (Clowe, Hartnell) to enforcers, (Clifford, Glass) to finesse players (Kovalchuk, Thornton).

Player	Date	Tm		Opp		Player	Date	Tm		Opp
Mike Richards	03/05/2012	LAK		STL		Milan Lucic	22/01/2012	BOS	@	PHI
Claude Giroux	15/04/2012	PHI		PIT		Gregory Campbell	19/01/2012	BOS	@	NJD
Joe Thornton	05/04/2012	SJS	@	LAK		Jay Harrison	12/01/2012	CAR	@	TBL
Ryane Clowe	05/04/2012	SJS	@	LAK		Jarome Iginla	10/01/2012	CGY		NJD
Matt Frattin	03/04/2012	TOR	@	BUF		Adam Henrique	10/01/2012	NJD	@	CGY
Brandon Sutter	17/03/2012	CAR	@	MIN		T.J. Galiardi	06/01/2012	COL	@	CHI
Jamie McGinn	06/03/2012	COL		MIN		Zdeno Chara	17/12/2011	BOS	@	PHI
Colin Greening	06/03/2012	OTT	@	TBL		Daniel Winnik	15/12/2011	COL	@	SJS
R.J. Umberger	21/02/2012	CBJ		SJS		Troy Brouwer	07/12/2011	WSH	@	OTT
Wayne Simmonds	11/02/2012	PHI		NYR		Steve Montador	10/11/2011	CHI	@	CBJ
Scott Hartnell	09/02/2012	PHI		TOR		Tanner Glass	08/11/2011	WPG	@	BUF
Ilya Kovalchuk	04/02/2012	NJD	@	PHI		Evander Kane	03/11/2011	WPG	@	NYI
Kyle Clifford	23/01/2012	LAK		OTT

  On January 10th, 2012, Jarome Iginla and Adam Henrique both had GHHTs and thier fight was against each other,  Joe Thornton and Ryane Clowe were the only teammate to each get a GHT in the same game.  In 2011-12, GHHTs were more common by players on the away team as opposed to home, 17 to 8, and players who had a GHHT helped their teams to a 20-5 records in those games.  

  16 Players got their 1st career Gordie Howe Hat Trick.  Zdeno Chara got his 5th career GHHT, which ties him with Paul Coffey for the most amongst defencemen since 1987-88.  Iginla padded his led amongst active players with his 10th regular season GHHT.  He also had one in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004.
  Which player's Gordie Howe Hat Trick in 2001/12 was the biggest surprise?