Josh Manson earns Gordie Howe hat trick in Avalanche's rout of Senators

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson delivered a memorable performance on Thursday night, achieving a Gordie Howe hat trick in an 8-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. With his father, former NHL defenseman Dave Manson, watching from the stands, Josh tallied two goals, two assists and dropped the gloves for a fight. This rare feat—named after hockey legend Gordie Howe—highlighted Manson’s all-around game and helped snap the Avalanche’s brief two-game skid.

The win improved Colorado’s home record to an impressive 18-0-2, tying a franchise mark with six goals in the second period alone. Coach Jared Bednar praised Manson’s contributions across all zones.

Manson family legacy on display

Josh Manson followed in his father’s footsteps, joining Dave in the exclusive Gordie Howe hat trick club. Dave, a rugged defenseman over 16 NHL seasons, accomplished the feat during his career known for physicality and scoring touch. Josh’s performance was especially poignant with his dad in attendance at Ball Arena.

“It’s a first for everybody, including myself,” Josh said postgame. He admitted the fight wasn’t planned but saw it as a spark for his team after Ottawa’s clean hit on teammate Ivan Ivan. Manson presented himself, and Senators’ Tyler Kleven obliged, igniting the crowd early.

The elder Manson had seen his son fight and score before, but never all together in one NHL game. This shared milestone underscores the family values of toughness and skill passed down through generations.

Colorado’s depth shone through, but Manson’s night stood out as a beacon of the blue-line impact.

Dissecting Manson’s standout stats

Manson wasted no time, fighting Kleven in the first period shortly after the hit on Ivan. Moments later, his penalty expired, and he buried the game’s opening goal—his first of two on the night and the first multi-goal game of his career. In the second, he assisted on Cale Makar’s tally to seal the hat trick.

He flirted with even rarer feats: another fight would have made it a double Gordie Howe, while one more goal nearly delivered a regular hat trick. “Some nights you feel great and you’re minus-three, and some nights you just feel OK things are going in for you,” Manson reflected humbly.

Bednar lauded the defenseman’s involvement: “He had a Gordie Howe hat trick early in the second period and then he just kept coming.” Manson contributed to everything, from physical play to offensive bursts.

• Two goals: First-period opener and another multi-point explosion.
• Two assists: Including on Makar’s second-period marker.
• One fight: Versus Kleven, energizing the bench.
• Overall impact: Plus rating in an 8-2 blowout, strong defensively.

For highlights of Manson’s goals and the fight, check out this game recap from The Hockey News.

Avalanche seize control in second period

Trailing momentum briefly after Ottawa’s response, Colorado challenged a Senators goal for offside—and won. That call flipped the script, sparking five straight goals and a franchise-record-tying six in the period. Manson’s assist on Makar came amid the frenzy, pushing the lead to 3-1 then exploding outward.

“It’s kind of one of those things where you start rolling,” Manson said of the outburst. The Avalanche drained the drama, cruising to victory and reinforcing their Ball Arena dominance.

Ottawa struggled to match the pace, with Kleven’s fight setting a tone Colorado capitalized on fully. Bednar noted Manson’s defending remained sharp despite the offensive fireworks.

This performance bodes well for playoff aspirations, blending grit with skill.

Watch the full game highlights on Yahoo Sports to see the second-period dominance unfold.

Understanding the Gordie Howe hat trick

A Gordie Howe hat trick requires a goal, an assist and a fight in one game, honoring the Mr. Hockey namesake who embodied complete play. For more on its history and rarity, see this breakdown on NHL Insight.

These feats are scarce in modern NHL, but enforcers like Manson keep the tradition alive. Recent examples include Ross Johnston’s for the Ducks—detailed here on NHL Insight—showing tough D-men still thrive.

Manson’s version was textbook: fight first, score next, assist to cap it early.

Statistically, only a handful occur yearly, making Josh’s paternal parallel even more special.

Historians note Howe’s own totals pale in comparison to pure scorers, but his well-roundedness defined eras.

Manson’s night exemplifies why the term endures.

Manson’s heroics propel Colorado forward, blending family pride with team success. As the Avalanche chase the Central Division crown, expect more from their blue line. This win signals they’re peaking at home, ready for challengers ahead.