November 27th, 1984
If you’re an NHL player a hat trick is something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. That said, if you’re Wayne Gretzky by the time you turned 23 you already had enough to last five lifetimes and on this day, he recorded his 30th in just his 5th season in the league.
The young Oilers captain would have a five point night against the Maple Leafs in a 7-1 whoopin. Ken Wregget, I hope you don’t wake up screaming over this game at night.
December 2nd, 1981
In one of the greatest examples of “LOL defence” in NHL history, the Oilers would fall on the road to the Quebec Nordiques in a score that was as common in the 80’s as you or I waking up and brushing our teeth first thing in the morning. 9-8 Quebec.
It was a game that showcased the young guns of the era as Mark Messier would have a hat trick, while Quebec’s Stastny brothers, Peter, Anton and Marian whom just months earlier had escaped Czechoslovakia for a chance at playing in the NHL, would each score in this game. Peter led the way with four points.
Dave Lumley would also score on a penalty shot, the Oilers 2nd in their NHL history, while Mr.Gretzky would only have 2 points (two assists) in a game of 17 combined goals at Le Colisee. There wouldn’t be many nights in the 81-82 season where he’d be quiet.
December 4th, 1988
He was apart of the most infamous trade in hockey history and his time in Edmonton wasn’t all sunshine and roses but when things were good, he could light up the lamp. At the arena with the nickname of the Mecca, the Oilers post Wayne Gretzky would knock off the New York Rangers 10-6 with Jimmy Carson netting a hat trick.
It would be Carson’s only hat trick as a member of the Oilers, but in that 1988-89 season he’d finish only behind Jari Kurri in scoring with 100 points and would lead them in the goals department with 49. The Carson era wouldn’t even last a season and a half however, as very early into the 1989-90 season he would be traded after demanding to be shipped out of town to the Detroit Red Wings for Adam Graves, Peter Klima, Joe Murphy and Jeff Sharples.
Klima, Murphy and Graves would end up being key cogs for the Oilers in their Cup run during the 1989-90 season while Carson, even though he wouldn’t win a Cup, would go on to have productive seasons in Detroit with four straight years of 20 goals or more.
December 5th, 1986
I firmly believe the NHL needs a separate record book for everything that #99 did to truly grasp what he accomplished as a player.
In a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Gretzky would record his 1500th point in just his 580th career game, a mark that he reached faster than any other player in league history. The names he passed to reach it include Gordie Howe, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito and Stan Mikita.
In that 1986-87 season Gretzky would put up 183 points and to this day only Mario Lemieux has been able to meet Gretzky when it comes to recording 180 points or more in a season.
Next Week
I’ll look at the Oilers being involved in the highest scoring game in the history of the NHL as well as the greatest coach in franchise history getting his own day in the City of Champions.
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