BLUE JACKETS 5, SABRES 3 Hat trick stokes Robinson’s confidence
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Saying it'd been a while since Eric Robinson's last hat trick is putting it mildly.
Despite scoring twice in a game on two previous occasions during an NHL career that spans five-plus seasons, the 27-year old Blue Jackets forward hadn't scored three times in a game since his youth. He'd never made hats fly at Princeton, either, so Robinson began dreaming a little Tuesday night at Keybank Arena, where he scored two goals before the third period in the Jacket's 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
“It's kind of natural to think that,” Robinson said, “but it's been at least 12 or 15 years since I've had one, so it doesn't come naturally … That's for sure.”
His first NHL hat trick wasn't natural. Robinson's three goals weren't scored consecutively, which constitutes a “natural hat trick,” but that was of little concern or consequence. All Robinson cared about afterward was freeing his sore feet from the tightness of his skates and savoring his sixth, seventh and eight goals of the season on the flight home.
“This definitely helps the confidence,” Robinson said. “Anytime you can get one goal in the NHL, it's special. So, cool night for me, for sure.”
It wasn't Robinson's first “cool night” as an NHL player. He's had big games and made some impressive plays before, but doing it more often is an ongoing challenge.
Robinson isn't the only player striving for more NHL success, but games such as Tuesday's in Buffalo tend to feel like finishing a frustrating round of golf with a 45-foot birdie putt. They tease what could happen in the future with just a little more luck and practice.
That's where Robinson finds himself now.
He's not “old” just starting his late 20s, but he's also not “young” by NHL standards.
There's enough time to continue seeking another level in the world's most difficult league. The hat trick pulled Robinson within two goals of his career-high 10 last year, and the Blue Jackets have 21 games left.
“I still feel young and still feel like I'm learning,” said Robinson, whose shooting percentage rose 3.1 percentage points to 9.5% after the hat trick. “Obviously, it's something I've struggled with in the past, getting (scoring) opportunities and not necessarily finishing, but I do feel like there's something more there. The more I get comfortable and confident, I can produce more.”