Ranking the 5 best performances from a wild Tuesday night

If you weren't a big hockey fan before Tuesday night, taking in the madness that ensued in the NHL would have probably been enough to change that.

Permanently.

You name it, the nine-game slate had it: fights, natural hat tricks, overtime winners, historic winning and point streaks extended. It really was one of the wildest and most exciting nights of the 2017-18 season.

After such a prestigious night, we've compiled a ranking of the most notable highlights for your viewing and reading pleasure.

Here's a look at the five best performances from Tuesday:

5. Steve Mason, 31-save shutout, win

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

In his first start in almost two months, Mason was simply sensational for the Winnipeg Jets, stopping all 31 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the year and 34th of his career.

Mason's tenure in Winnipeg hasn't exactly gone to plan, but if he can string together a few performances like Tuesday night's, the Jets' investment of $8.2 million over two years won't seem like the complete waste it has for most the season.

Without Mason between the pipes Tuesday, Winnipeg's neat-and-tidy shutout win could have looked a whole lot different.

4. Torey Krug, 4-point night

While a player a little farther down this list stole the show for the Bruins, Krug had an unreal game of his own. Two goals, two assists, and three shots on net in just over 20 minutes of ice time is more than good enough for the Boston blue-liner to make the list.

Here's a look at Krug's first-period rocket, scored only 37 seconds into the game:

.@ToreyKrug got all the scoring started with this rocket from the point just 37 seconds into the game. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/6UWKflf79x

- Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 7, 2018

Krug is heating up at just the right time for the surging Bruins, racking up nine points (three goals, six assists) over his last four games.

3. Patrik Laine, natural hat trick

Laine's teammates might want to be wary of how close they get to the 19-year-old, as his hands and stick are surely red-hot from his torrid scoring pace over the last few games.

In addition to registering his team's only three goals against the New York Rangers on Tuesday, Laine is now riding a nine-game point streak in which he's tallied 13 goals and six assists.

Check out Laine's laser from the first period, his 36th goal of the campaign:

Yet another snipe for @PatrikLaine29. He's gonna extend his point streak to nine games. pic.twitter.com/gstKzz3BqR

- NHL (@NHL) March 7, 2018

The Finnish sensation would go on to score two more on the night, setting a new career high in goals with 38. Quite the night, indeed.

2. Nick Bjugstad, hat trick

Speaking of hot, Florida Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad is on a pretty decent run of his own, registering five goals and seven assists over his last 11 games, including a hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Here's Bjugstad's first goal of the night:

Tricky Nick strikes for the #Cats. #FLAvsTBL pic.twitter.com/yC7gJU8K1h

- Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 7, 2018

Sure, Laine's hatty was also impressive, but his third was scored on an empty-netter. So the edge goes to Bjugstad and his three-goal night.

1. Brad Marchand, 5 points, hat trick, OT winner

As much as opposing Atlantic Division teams won't like to admit it, Bruins forward Brad Marchand really can do it all. A point he hammered home Tuesday with a performance for the ages.

If five points, a natural hat trick, and a game-winning overtime goal wasn't enough, Marchand's OT goal was the 11th of his career, moving him into first on Boston's all-time OT winners list.

The hatty in @EASPORTSNHL OT and the most goals in the extra frame by any @NHLBruins player.

Elite stuff by @Bmarch63. pic.twitter.com/14ERpN9vB7

- NHL (@NHL) March 7, 2018

Boston has been one of the best teams in the league all season long, and after a look at Marchand's showing Tuesday night, you can start to understand why.

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