Jamie Vardy got back on track with hat trick vs. Man City, and Leicester City might too

Jamie Vardy ended his goal drought in a big way on Saturday. The Leicester City frontman, mired in a months-long scoring slump, erupted against Manchester City to slam the brakes on his — and his team's — slide.

By the end of matchday 14 last season, Vardy had already scored 14 Premier League goals. He had scored in 11 straight EPL matches, setting a new record and charting his course toward the Premier League title and the Player of the Season award.

This season hadn't been so kind. Vardy had just two league goals on the books going into Saturday's match. His dry spell spanned 16 matches in all competitions for Leicester, dating all the way back to September. To make matters worse, the Foxes were just two points clear of the drop, solidifying their position as the worst defending champions in history.

That tumultuous tide changed against Man City. It didn't take long for Vardy to get going and finally break his duck. Three minutes into the match, Vardy diced through City's wafer-thin back three to open the scoring. The Foxes found a second before the clock hit five minutes. The blitz was on.

After wetting his beak early, Vardy collected his second in the 20th minute. His third was a true poacher's goal, slipping onto an ill-advised pass and sliding the ball into the City net from a nearly impossibly tight angle.

And with that, Vardy had his hat trick. The 4-2 win against City was a stunner, even as defending champions. It doesn't put the Foxes back on the title track, but that train left the station weeks ago. It does give Leicester a vital three points and breathing room away from the nether regions of the table.

Leicester were never going to be able to replicate the magic of last season entirely. But on Saturday they were able to capture a small dose of what made them, and Vardy, so special to watch.