Throwback Thursday: On this day in 1987, Doug Smail hat trick leads Winnipeg Jets to victory

Welcome back to another edition of Throwback Thursday! In case you missed last week’s edition, we’re bringing back a much-beloved series across the Nation Network.

So, without further ado…

On this day in 1987, Doug Smail found the back of the net three times en route to a 6-2 @Winnipeg Jets win over the @Boston Bruins.

It was the first hat trick of Smail’s career, who added in another assist in the game, en route to the big win for the Jets.

Smail’s trio of tallies was almost a natural hat trick, but B’s Geoff Courtnall broke that. Smail’s first goal was the Jets’ third of the game, which came six minutes into the first frame.

Smail got two quick ones in the third — all but securing the win — when he found twine four minutes in, and another 2:20 later.

And another big star of the game was Paul MacLean, who had one goal and another four helpers en route to the win.

The Bruins goalie, Doug Keans, got some love from The Associated Press in their post-game write up.

“Boston goaltender Doug Keans played brilliantly as the Bruins suffered their fourth consecutive loss. Keans, who returned to action Monday after missing five games with a groin injury, faced 33 shots and made several acrobatic saves.”

Well, it wasn’t that great of a night for Keans who offered up a measly .818 save percentage…

On Twitter: @zjlaing