By April 8, 2010, the Carolina Hurricanes were already eliminated from playoff contention. They took the ice that night to play their final home game of the campaign against the Montreal Canadiens trying to give the Caniacs one final show. That's exactly what the fans got from Eric Staal and Chad LaRose on that Thursday night.
Jaroslav Halak and Cam Ward kept their opponents quiet in the first period before Staal took over the second. After LaRrose's initial chance was stopped, Staal swooped in and buried a backhander from the slot to kickstart the scoring. Three minutes later, Staal sprung LaRose for a breakaway. As he was being tripped, LaRose elevated his backhand past Halak for an incredible goal to extend the Canes' lead.
Montreal cut into the lead midway through the second, but an early power-play goal in the third helped restore the two-goal advantage. Jamie McBain made an incredibly deceptive move, opening up the seam by faking a clapper. McBain hit Staal for an easy goal to make it 3-1. The Canadiens got another to shrink the lead, but that's as close as it would get.
Late in the game, Staal and LarRose connected twice more. Staal's chance on a 3-on-2 was kicked away, but the puck went right to LaRose, who scored his second goal of the night on the rebound. In the final minutes, LaRose would help Staal complete the hat trick, scoring into the empty net for the 10th hat trick of his career. Staal ended the night with five points and LaRose had four to help the Canes finish their home slate with a 5-2 victory.
Eric Staal's 10th hat trick moved him past Ron Francis for the most in franchise history. He wasn't able to help finish the season on a high note, losing to Boston in the season finale two days later. The Canes were on the wrong side of history that day, allowing three short-handed goals in 1:04 during one penalty to fall behind. Boston held on for a 4-2 victory.
Staal wouldn't stop at ten hat tricks, extending his lead in later seasons. He scored two hat tricks a month apart during the 2010-11 season and finished his Hurricanes career with 13 before being traded to the Rangers. He still maintains his record, with Sebastian Aho, who has eight in his career, looking like the only potential challenger for the throne.