NEW YORK -- It took 141 regular-season games and one extra day for Rick Nash to get his first hat trick with the New York Rangers.
A little help from the NHL official scorer on Christmas Eve made it so.
About 12 hours after the Rangers beat the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night, Nash was credited with his third goal of the game on Wednesday morning.
Nash gave New York a 1-0 lead in the first period and a 3-0 edge 5:12 into the third. He was originally given an assist on a power-play goal awarded to Martin St. Louis that made it 4-2 with 3:48 remaining, but it was determined that St. Louis didn't touch the puck.
Nash was the last Rangers player to get his stick on it before Capitals goalie Braden Holtby knocked the puck into the net with his glove.
In 32 games this season, Nash has 23 goals -- two behind than NHL leader Tyler Seguin of Dallas. He notched only 26 in 65 games last season, his second with the Rangers.