Brad Richards recorded the first hat trick of his NHL career when he scored three goals for the Rangers in their 8-4 win at Buffalo. Before Richards completed his hat trick at the 12:32 mark of the third period, his career total of 254 goals (including the two he scored earlier in the game) was the second-highest in NHL history among players who had never scored three or more goals in one game, behind retired defenseman Larry Murphy's record total of 287 goals. Second place on that list now reverts to the man who held that spot when the night began, Pavel Datsyuk, with 253 goals but no regular-season hat tricks