Semin looks for three hat tricks in three games against Lightning

The Caps come off a monumental victory over the Penguins in the Winter Classic to face

Southeast Division rival Tampa Bay tonight in the Verizon Center. With the two teams tied atop
the division with 51 point, a win would put the Capitals in sole possession of first place.

Washington has beaten Tampa Bay twice this season, 6-3 and 6-0. In the first matchup Nov. 11,
Alexander Semin had a hat trick, and Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Knuble, and Tom Poti each had
one goal. Semin liked the way the Lightning let him skate through their defense, and pulled a hat
piece in the second matchup Nov. 26.

Semin severely needs to break out of his scoring slump and tonight’s game against the Lightning
is a perfect opportunity to do so. No one should expect the hats to end up on the ice in this one,
but what if he did it?

Three hat tricks in three games against a single team? Has that ever been done before? Do we
need to invent a new word? Let’s toss a few around. Seminal? The Sem-tacular? Semi-sweet?
The triceratops? A bang show? Maple Semin conglomerate? Ménage a trois? That’s my favorite.
But we’re not very good at this. Comment and leave your invention.

The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. in the Verizon Center. Rock the red.