Carlson's Hat Trick Leads Ducks Past Sharks 6-1

Veteran defenseman scores 3 goals in Anaheim's dominant win over Pacific Division rival.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:23am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game with overlapping planes of teal, orange, and navy blue, capturing the dynamic action and energy of the match between the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.Carlson's hat trick powers Ducks' dominant win over division rival SharksSan Jose Today

John Carlson scored his first career hat trick, netting three goals to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. The Ducks snapped a six-game losing streak with the dominant performance, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and controlling the game throughout.

Why it matters

Carlson's breakout game is a big boost for the Ducks, who acquired the veteran defenseman at the trade deadline to help shore up their struggling defense. The win also keeps Anaheim in the playoff hunt in the tight Pacific Division race.

The details

Carlson scored two power-play goals in the third period to secure the hat trick, his first in 1,156 career NHL games. Leo Carlsson, Alex Killorn and Frank Vatrano also scored for the Ducks, who got two assists from Beckett Sennecke. Lukas Dostal made 16 saves in the win. Shakir Mukhamadullin scored the lone goal for the Sharks, who had won 5 of 7 to surge into playoff position.

  • Carlsson opened the scoring less than 3 minutes into the game.
  • Carlson scored his first goal of the night late in the first period.
  • Killorn scored in the second period to make it 3-0 Ducks.
  • Carlson scored his second and third goals on the power play in the third period.
  • Vatrano added a late goal for the Ducks.

The players

John Carlson

A 17-year NHL veteran defenseman who scored his first career hat trick to lead the Ducks to victory.

Leo Carlsson

Anaheim forward who opened the scoring for the Ducks.

Alex Killorn

Ducks forward who scored in the second period to make it 3-0.

Lukas Dostal

Anaheim goaltender who made 16 saves in the win.

Shakir Mukhamadullin

San Jose Sharks forward who scored his team's lone goal.

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What’s next

The Ducks will host the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, while the Sharks will host the Canucks on Saturday.

The takeaway

Carlson's hat trick was a career milestone and a much-needed boost for the Ducks, who are fighting to stay in the playoff race in the tight Pacific Division. The veteran defenseman has been a key addition since the trade deadline, helping to solidify Anaheim's struggling blue line.