# September 29 in Hockey History
September 29 has produced several memorable individual performances throughout NHL history, though predominantly in the preseason context. The date stands out as a showcase for offensive explosions, with multiple hat-trick performances and one exceptional multi-point game punctuating the historical record.
The Ribeiro Exception: A Six-Point Masterclass
The most significant performance recorded on September 29 occurred in 2011, when Mike Ribeiro recorded a dominant six-point game consisting of one goal and five assists. This performance stands apart from other September 29 achievements due to its rarity—six-point games are uncommon in any context, making Ribeiro's output noteworthy even if it occurred during preseason play. The breadth of his contribution, generating five helpers alongside a goal, demonstrates the type of playmaking excellence that defined his career as both a scorer and facilitator.
The Era of Hat-Tricks: 2014-2024
Beginning in 2014, September 29 became particularly associated with three-goal performances. That year witnessed two separate hat-trick achievements within the same day: Jason Pominville of the Minnesota Wild recorded three goals and one assist (4 points total) against the Pittsburgh Penguins, while Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars matched the three-goal output with an additional assist, totaling four points in Dallas's matchup against the Florida Panthers.
The pattern continued a decade later. In 2015, Anton Lander of the Edmonton Oilers scored three goals in Edmonton's game against the Arizona Coyotes. By 2021, Michael Bunting of the Toronto Maple Leafs replicated the three-goal performance against the Ottawa Senators in preseason action.
Most recently, in 2024, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored three goals against the Ottawa Senators, maintaining the September 29 tradition of prolific individual performances.
Preseason Performance Patterns
Notably, all documented September 29 performances occurred during preseason play, suggesting the date falls within the typical late-September exhibition schedule that precedes regular season openings. The concentration of offensive performances during this period may reflect the nature of preseason competition, where defensive structures remain less established and goaltender performance can be more variable than during regular season contests.
The geographic distribution of these performances shows no particular venue pattern, with games occurring across multiple cities and involving various NHL franchises. However, the Pittsburgh Penguins appear twice as opponents in this historical record, facing both Pominville in 2014 and Malkin in 2024.
By the Numbers
**2011**: Mike Ribeiro's six-point performance (1G, 5A) remains the single highest-point output on September 29**Hat-tricks recorded**: Five instances of three-goal performances between 2014-2024**Tyler Seguin's 2014 output**: 3 goals and 1 assist (4 points) against Florida—the highest single-game point total among the hat-trick performances**Total documented performances**: Six significant individual performances spanning a 13-year period from 2011-2024**Assist-to-goal ratio (Ribeiro)**: 5:1, representing the most pass-heavy performance in the historical record