In over 106 years of NHL hockey, only 13 players have recorded eight or more points in a single game. And in this century? Only one player has pulled it off. Was it Sidney Crosby, the undisputed face of hockey throughout the 2010s?
No, Sid couldn’t quite reach that elusive milestone. His best efforts? Two six-point games: one against the Flyers in 2006 and another against the Islanders in 2010. Surely, then, it must be Connor McDavid, the generational talent of today? Remarkably, no. McDavid’s top single-game performances include two six-point outings against the Avalanche and Red Wings.
And what about Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer of all time? Surprisingly, his best single-game tally is five points, a feat he has achieved four times. If not them, perhaps legends of the early 2000s like Jaromir Jagr or Daniel Alfredsson? Both came close, each managing seven-point games during their illustrious careers, but never eight. Could it have been Nick Schmaltz didn’t he have a crazy game not too long ago? Well no,He lit the lamp with a seven-point game not too long ago in 2022 vs the sens.
To find the answer, we travel back to February 2, 2012—a chilly Thursday night in Edmonton. The Oilers were hosting the Chicago Blackhawks, a team in the midst of building a modern-day dynasty. But the hero of this story wouldn’t come from the Blackhawks. No, the spotlight would fall on a player few would have ever predicted.
His name? Sam Gagner. #samgagner #edmontonoilers #hockey #nhl #oilers #nhlhistory #icehockey