Six days ago, the Winnipeg Jets awarded forward Nikolaj Ehlers a seven-year extension worth $42 million. As the Jets faced the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, Ehlers proved that he was worth the investment.
Ehlers registered his second career hat-trick en route to the Jets 5-2 win over Edmonton.
Edmonton threw out two in 40 seconds, but @NikolajEhlers24 answered with a pair of his own.
— NHL (@NHL) October 10, 2017
Highlights: https://t.co/YdD4TmQttJ #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/foEwLZTloH
Edmonton had scored twice in 40 seconds to bring the affair to a 2-2 tie. Just over three minutes after Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored what was Edmonton's last goal, Ehlers netted his first goal — a wrist-shot past the glove of Cam Talbot.
Then with some help from Jets forward Blake Wheeler, Ehlers scored 69 seconds after his first tally. Ehlers and the Jets stole the momentum from Edmonton and held a firm grasp of it heading into the final period. The 21-year-old's final goal came by way of the power play, in which Winnipeg solidified its lead and left Edmonton with two points.