The NHL's history of players scoring 8 points in a game is not only long but also surprisingly bizarre. This weekend marks a significant milestone: 50 years since Darryl Sittler's iconic 10-point game on February 7, 1976. Sittler's six goals and four assists led the Toronto Maple Leafs to victory over the Boston Bruins, and the record-breaking performance became a defining moment of 1970s hockey, remaining unbeaten to this day. But while the 10-point club remains exclusive, and the nine-point club remains empty, the eight-point club is more populated than you might imagine. There have been 15 eight-point games in NHL history, achieved by 12 different players. Let's explore these remarkable feats, starting with the original eight-point man.
The Original Eight-Point Man:
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard, on December 28, 1944, against the Detroit Red Wings, became the first player to score eight points in a game. This achievement came during his legendary '50 in 50' season, where he became the first player to score 50 goals in a season. Richard's eight points included four goals and three assists, with his final point coming with just 13 seconds left in the game.
The 23-Year Gap:
The next player to join the eight-point club was Bert Olmstead, a Hall of Famer who achieved this feat on January 9, 1954, against the Chicago Black Hawks. Olmstead's eight points included five goals and three assists, and it would be the last eight-point game for over two decades.
The Unknown Defender:
Tom Bladon, a relatively unknown defenseman for the Flyers, shocked the hockey world on December 11, 1977, against the Cleveland Barons. Bladon, who had only one four-point game in his career, scored eight points, including a hat trick and five assists. Interestingly, his +10 rating that night remains an NHL record.
The Great Eight from the Great One:
Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, scored eight points twice in one season. On November 19, 1983, against the New Jersey Devils, Gretzky had two points in the first, three in the second, and three in the third, including a short-handed goal. This game became known as the infamous 'Mickey Mouse Game.' Just a few months later, on January 4, 1984, Gretzky did it again, this time against the Minnesota North Stars in a 12-8 victory. He had four points in the first and four in the second, but was shut out in the third, making it the first time in history a player had a pointless period in an eight-point game.
The Defenseman You Have Heard Of:
Paul Coffey, another legendary defenseman, achieved eight points on March 14, 1986, against the Detroit Red Wings. Coffey, who would later play for the Red Wings, had three points in the first, three in the second, and two in the third, including a goal and six assists. He became the first player to reach eight points without scoring a hat trick.
The Playoff Game:
Patrik Sundström, a Devils center, made history in a playoff game on April 22, 1988, against the Washington Capitals. Sundström had seven points in the first two periods and scored a goal in the third, finishing with eight points. This game also had a unique twist as Sundström's brother, Peter, played for the Capitals but had zero points that night.
Super Mario's Hat Trick:
Mario Lemieux, one of the game's all-time greats, scored eight points twice in the same season. On October 15, 1988, against the St. Louis Blues, Lemieux had two points in the first, three in the second, and three in the third, including two goals and six assists. Then, on December 31, 1988, against the New Jersey Devils, he scored a hat trick in the first, followed by a goal and three assists in the second, and an empty-net goal in the third. This game became known as the 'five points five ways' game, voted the NHL's greatest moment of all time.
The 17-Goal Playoff Game:
Lemieux's third eight-point game came on April 25, 1989, against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored four goals in the first, three assists in the second, and an empty-net goal in the final minute. This game is also notable for featuring a combined 17 goals and a goalie fighting a defenseman.
The One-Year Wonder:
Bernie Nicholls, a Los Angeles Kings center, had an incredible 1988-89 season, finishing with 70 goals and 150 points. On December 1, 1988, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nicholls scored eight points, including two goals and six assists. This game is notable for Ken Baumgartner, who had an assist on two of the goals, one of only five two-point games in his 12-year career.
The Out-of-Nowhere Performance:
Sam Gagner, on February 2, 2012, against the Chicago Blackhawks, became the most recent player to score eight points in a game. Gagner, who had just 22 points in 43 games before this game, scored a goal and two assists in the second period, followed by a third-period explosion, giving him six points. He added a goal and an assist in the third, becoming the only player in NHL history to score eight points while being involved in every one of his team's goals.
The NHL's eight-point club is a testament to the game's unpredictability and the extraordinary talent of its players. While the 10-point club remains exclusive, the eight-point club continues to grow, with each new member adding their unique story to the league's rich history. Will we see another eight-point game in the future? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the NHL never fails to surprise us.
