Rookie Patrik Laine had a fantastic night supported by his teammates, and beat Auston Matthews in the process

It took a week for Patrik Laine to get his Auston Matthews moment. Back a full seven days ago, we heralded Matthews’ historic four-goal night as his “Ovechkin Moment,” and we weren’t wrong. Now Laine is getting his time in the sun, and it came against the rookie he was drafted behind no less.

Matthews was praised extensively for his individual effort, especially on that second goal that had two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson looking like he was standing still. Laine, by comparison, was able to break out in the way he did thanks to the plays that set him up.

This isn’t to say that any old schmuck could slide right into Laine’s place and score all three goals in the fashion that he did. For this, I direct you to goal No. 1.

Laine received a soft slap pass from defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a perfect spot in the middle of the slot. Byfuglien could have decided to key it up from the point with that big shot he has, but instead a big lane opens right up for him and he sees his chance.

It’s hard to tell if Byfuglien was going for the redirection attempt or a straight pass, but either way Laine is able to bat down the puck right on the curve of his stick.

The spin to create separation is matched by his ability to know exactly where the net is in his mind before he shoots. Laine has his head turned away from Frederik Andersen the entire time until he spun to lift the puck over what he believed to be a goaltender down in the butterfly.

And he was right. Andersen went down, but Laine doesn’t miss with the top-shelf cheese that zoomed right past the netminder’s right ear.

Not many players can make that perfect shot, especially 18-year-olds in their fourth professional hockey game.

The tying tally from Laine is a layup for the kid after his first goal of the night.

However, the real reason this play succeeded was because of the failed clear by Connor Carrick and the great keep in by young forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

With the puck coming full speed at Ehlers, the forward didn’t panic. He held his ground, as thankfully he was in the right place at the right time to stop the puck from leaving the zone, and faked the point shot. That got Andersen moving so far out of his net that he had no chance to get back on Laine’s laser.

The Maple Leafs’ penalty kill bit on the shot, too, as the ice opened once again for Laine as he winds up for the slap shot. Ehlers’ readjusts himself before sliding the perfect pass across to Laine, who buries it easily from one knee.

Tie game. Blouses.

This is the goal that will highlight the Matthews/Laine rivalry for years to come. On one end of the ice, Michael Hutchinson got a huge stop on a Matthews breakaway in 3-on-3 overtime.

Matthews got behind the defense — and Laine himself actually, who missed a poke check in the middle of the ice — before being shut down on a five-hole attempt from Hutchinson.

The rest is history. Byfuglien threaded a pass cross-ice to Laine, who took the puck down ice on a 2-on-1. Laine was thinking shot all the way and Andersen couldn’t catch up to the rising shot that beat him high glove side.

A picture-perfect night for the No. 2 draft pick, but one that might not have been possible without the key plays from the team behind him. Laine will deservedly get the praise for his first career hat trick, at Matthews’ expense no less. It might not have been in the jaw-dropping way Matthews did it, but Laine has cemented himself — and this burgeoning rivalry — on par with the No. 1 pick.

Your move, Matthews.