Sharks' Ward scores 100th career goal en route to hat trick
Nick Lust / National Hockey League / Getty
It was a milestone day for San Jose Sharks forward Joel Ward.
The 34-year-old kicked off the game with the 100th goal of his nine-year NHL career less than two minutes into the first period to give the Sharks an early 1-0 lead.
Ward was back at it just seven minutes later, burying his second of the game past Carolina Hurricanes netminder Eddie Lack on an odd-man rush for his fourth goal of the young season.
His night was capped off perfectly as Brent Burns set him up for an empty-netter in the third to complete his second career hat trick, clinching a 5-2 victory for the Sharks.
(Videos courtesy: NHL.com)
Ward is now on a point-per-game pace for the season with five goals and three assists in eight games.