Wayne Gretzky. Paul Coffey. Sam Gagner.
Normally, this would be a "which one of these things is not like the others"-like quandary, but not after the Edmonton Oilers' 8-4 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
That's because Sam Gagner ? we repeat SAM GAGNER ? tied the Oilers' single-game team-scoring record shared by two Hockey Hall of Famers with eight points. Gagner had four goals, four assists and was a plus-6 in 17:28.
"It's tough to say. I didn't have that good of a first period, but then everything I touched was going in," said Gagner, 22, via the Oilers. "It's a pretty surreal feeling. Everyone on the bench was just telling me to stay out there for the last five minutes. I didn't have the legs to stay out there that long. It's a pretty good feeling. I'm going to cherish it."
What did this guy have for breakfast Thursday morning? "Same as always, oatmeal with berries."
Here are all the points on Gagner's incredible night:
With the Oilers down 2-0, Gagner assisted on Taylor Hall's second-period goal. He scored his first of the game at 7:26, followed by an assist on Ryan Whitney's first of the season. Then he went nuts on the third: Scoring three goals and assisting on tallies by Cam Barker and Jordan Eberle.
So how amazing was Sam Gagner's night? Consider ?
With his eight-point night, Gagner:
? Became the first NHL player to score eight points in a regular-season or playoff game since Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 25, 1989, against the Flyers (five goals, three assists). Mario also had the last regular-season eight-point game on Dec. 31, 1988 against the Devils. (The five goals, five ways game.)
? Not only joins Gretzky, Lemieux and Coffey, but names like Peter Stastny, Bryan Trottier and Rocket Richard in having scored eight points in a game.
? Began the night tied in points (22) with players like Tyler Kennedy, Steve Ott and Steve Downie; he's now tied in points (30) with players like Milan Hejduk, Danny Briere and Shane Doan.
? Collected exactly one-eighth of his point total from his last 111 NHL games.
? Scored more points in one game than the following players have scored this season: Zenon Konopka, Matt Hendricks, Adrian Aucoin, Marty Reasoner, Mike Rupp, Mathieu Darche, Roman Hamrlik, Patrick Kaleta, Matt Stajan and, yes, Scott Gomez.
? Scored as many points in one game than Paul Bissonnette has scored in his career (120 games).
Something tells us that Gagner may have actually played himself off the trading block for the Oilers ? unless this was an historic showcase for the benefit of the Blackhawks, of course.
Bottom line: He's a restricted free agent next summer. SIGN NOW!
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