Found this, from Elias Sport Bureau, via ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nhl/team/_/name/det/detroit-red-wings):

From Elias: Nicklas Lidstrom recorded the first three-goal game of his NHL career in the Red Wings’ 5-2 win over the Blues on Wednesday. The 40-year-old Lidstrom is the oldest first-time hat trickster in NHL history, breaking the mark set by 36-year-old Scott Mellanby in March 2003. He’s also the oldest defenseman in league history to notch a hat trick, smashing the record Mathieu Schneider set with Detroit at age 37 in October 2006.

Two records there; he’s the oldest d-man to record the hat trick (by 3 years), and the oldest ever to get his first hat trick (by 4 years).

Ironically he beat a record previously held by someone who did it in Detroit as well. I guess Detroit really *is* always an extremely old team!

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 12/16/10 at 11:49 AM ET

i would have said previously that he didnt have one. just seems like something he wouldnt look for in his all-around game. when i seen it in the box score last night with the empty netter, the first thing i thought was, “he must have never had a hat trick until now otherwise he wouldnt have the empty netter.”

good for him though. if anyone D-man in history deserves one for sure as part of an epic career.

Posted by DeathMetalNightmare on 12/16/10 at 11:54 AM ET

I vaguely knew he never had one because I don’t ever recall reading the morning boxscore that he had a hat trick the night before.

But I am glad I’m a witness to it.

Posted by SYF from the Swedish Ice Mafia on 12/16/10 at 02:50 PM ET

That was a surprise to me as well, Paul.  Good to see he finally got one.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 12/16/10 at 03:50 PM ET