Today’s Video Of Day features Derek Stepan’s second career hat trick from last night. The Rangers top center finally caught some luck ending a 12-game goal drought in style by recording three goals in the team’s 5-1 win over the Hurricanes at MSG. Let’s take a look back at a memorable night for D-Step.

The first goal came on the power play. Stepan was beneficiary of some strong second effort from linemates Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider in front. They freed up the puck for Stepan, who buried it for his first allowing him to finally exhale.

Goal two was by far the prettiest. It was the product of a dominant shift from the trio. A Kreider check allowed him to win the puck along the boards pushing it down for Zuccarello. Zuke made a beautiful no look backhand feed from behind the net to a wide open Stepan for a gimme. The pass by Zuccarello was magnificent and proves why he’s valuable. If you stick him on a good line, his skill makes a difference. Zuke also competes every shift. It’s nice to see him respond to Alain Vigneault’s benching. He, Stepan and Kreider have great chemistry.

Goal three was good fortune for a player who deserved it. Stepan has taken it on the chin following his predictable slow start following a lengthy holdout that cost him the entire preseason. He still led the team in assists (7) before the goal barrage. Kreider moved the puck across to Zuccarello, who fed a cutting Stepan in the slot. He let go of a shot that took a nice hop off Andrej Sekera past Justin Peters for the hat trick. The second of his career and first since a memorable rookie debut on Oct. 9, 2010 against the Sabres. Ironically, Sean Avery set up Stepan with a great backhand feed for that hat in Buffalo. Hard to believe three years later Avery’s retired. He was a good Ranger. A shame. Still love seeing Step’s Mom and sister’s reaction. Awesome!

”Goals on the power play, that’s going to help a power play,” Stepan said last night. ”We’ve certainly simplified things. Our power-play goal was a play out of the corner. Mac takes a slapper, and a mad scramble in front. If you look around the league, that’s how the power-play goals are being scored.”

”My two linemates have created pretty good looks for me, and I wasn’t able to find the back of the net. ‘Tonight they continued to do it, and I was fortunate enough to find the net a couple times, so that’s good.”