Hat tricks in the Stanley Cup Finals are rare and iconic moments that often define series or even entire careers. While the absolute fastest three goals in NHL history (Bill Mosienko’s 21-second blitz in 1952) occurred in the regular season, Finals hat tricks carry extra weight due to the intensity and stakes.
Here is a ranked list of the top 5 fastest (by time span between the first and third goal), focusing on verified or notably quick ones from Finals games. Recent data highlights modern records, with historical context from early eras where exact second-by-second timing was less consistently documented.
1. Mitch Marner – 6:10 (2026 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 3)
In one of the most explosive individual performances in recent Finals history, Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner set the record for the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Finals play. All three goals came in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes, turning a close game into a blowout lead.
• Goals timeline (approximate from reports): First at ~10:42 of the 2nd, second at 14:32, third at 16:52 (natural hat trick with even-strength goals).
• Marner added an assist earlier in the period for 4 points total, the first such feat in a Finals period since Frank Foyston in 1919.
• This broke the previous record by 11 seconds and showcased Marner’s playmaking and finishing after his high-profile move to Vegas. It propelled the Knights in the series.
This stands as the benchmark for modern Finals speed and efficiency under pressure.
2. Maurice “Rocket” Richard – ~6:21 (Likely 1940s/1950s Finals games)
Montreal Canadiens legend Maurice Richard, holder of the record for most career Finals hat tricks (3), previously owned the fastest mark. Marner surpassed his span by 11 seconds.
Richard’s Finals hat tricks included standout performances in series against teams like the Chicago Black Hawks (1944) and Boston Bruins (1950s). His explosive style and ability to dominate high-stakes games made him a terror in the Finals. Exact per-game timings vary by source, but his quickest is cited just behind Marner’s.
Richard’s hat tricks were part of his playoff dominance (he had multiple across his career), helping the Canadiens secure multiple Cups.
3. Frank Foyston – Rapid span in 1919 Stanley Cup Finals (exact seconds not fully digitized, but period-dominant)
Seattle Metropolitans star Frank Foyston delivered multiple hat tricks and record-setting performances in the 1919 Finals against the Montreal Canadiens (a series ultimately canceled due to the Spanish Flu pandemic after tying 2-2-1).
• He scored a hat trick in one game and four goals in another, with exceptional period production (including 3 goals in a period).
• His speed and output set early benchmarks; Marner was the first to match his 4-point period feat in a Finals game nearly a century later.
Foyston’s 9 goals in the series remain an all-time mark, highlighting his dominance in the early professional era.
4. Notable Quick Ones: Peter Forsberg (1996) and Mark Stone (2023)
• Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche, 1996 Finals vs. Florida Panthers): Scored a hat trick in Game 2, contributing to a strong series performance en route to the Cup. While not the absolute fastest, it was a pivotal, efficient display in a modern Finals context.
• Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights, 2023 Finals): Delivered a hat trick in Game 5, including an empty-netter, to help clinch the Cup. A clutch, series-ending performance that joined rare company of hat tricks in a clinching Finals game.
Other quick or memorable Finals hat tricks include Eric Desjardins (1993, Montreal; a dramatic OT-completing one as a defenseman) and various Richard performances.
5. Wayne Gretzky and Other Legends (e.g., ~6+ minutes spans or notable efficiency)
Wayne Gretzky had Finals hat tricks (including in 1985 and mentions of quick spans around 6 minutes in playoff contexts), cementing his playoff legacy with the Edmonton Oilers. His vision and finishing made even “slower” hat tricks devastating.
Other legends like Howie Morenz, Frank Boucher, and Busher Jackson also recorded Finals hat tricks in earlier decades, often in high-scoring games typical of the era.
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