Kurri and Gretzky Strike Shorthanded Lightning (Thanks to Lee Fogolin’s Penalty)

On December 21, 1983, the high-flying Edmonton Oilers hosted the Winnipeg Jets at the raucous Northlands Coliseum. In the heart of the 1983-84 season, goals came in bunches in Edmonton and this 7-4 Oilers victory was no exception. But two of those goals stood out for their rarity and timing.

Late in the first period, defenseman Lee Fogolin was sent off for slashing at 19:06. What followed was a stunning twist. Before the penalty expired, and before the period even ended, Edmonton struck twice while shorthanded.

At 19:33, Jari Kurri scored his 29th goal of the season, beating Jets netminder Brian Hayward with help from Wayne Gretzky. Just 15 seconds later, at 19:48, the roles reversed. Gretzky buried his 38th of the year, assisted by Kurri. Two shorthanded goals in 15 seconds, a remarkable display of opportunistic offense.

While the feat was extraordinary, it wasn’t unmatched in Oilers history. On November 12, 1988, Esa Tikkanen scored two shorthanded goals just 12 seconds apart against the Toronto Maple Leafs, an even faster pair.

Back on that December night in 1983, Gretzky wasn’t finished. With 19 seconds left in the game and Dave Hunter serving a roughing penalty, Gretzky scored his second shorthanded goal and third overall of the contest into an empty net. He finished the night with five points, while Kurri added four (two goals, two assists).

The Battle of Alberta: The Historic Rivalry Between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames

A deep dive into one of hockey’s most intense rivalries — the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames, featuring unforgettable games, personalities, and playoff clashes.

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Guy Chouinard’s 6-Assist Night Fuels 11-4 Calgary Flames Explosion

On February 25, 1981, the Calgary Flames welcomed the New York Islanders to the historic Stampede Corral for a showdown between two strong clubs. The Islanders held a 12-point edge in the standings, but what unfolded that night had little to do with pre-game expectations.

In their first season after relocating from Atlanta, the Flames were still establishing franchise benchmarks. Guy Chouinard set one in spectacular fashion, recording six assists, a single-game franchise record that still stands (later matched by Gary Suter in 1986). Chouinard set up goals by Bob MacMillan (2), Paul Reinhart, Kent Nilsson, Eric Vail, and Don Lever in a dazzling display of playmaking.

The Islanders led 4-3 after the opening period, but Calgary erupted thereafter. The Flames scored eight unanswered goals against goaltender Glenn Resch, transforming a tight contest into a stunning 11-4 rout. At the time, the eleven goals established a franchise scoring record, later surpassed in a 13-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in 1993.

Kent Nilsson delivered a five-point performance with a hat trick and two assists, while MacMillan added a pair of goals and a helper. Ken Houston rounded out the fireworks with a classic Gordie Howe HatTrick: a goal, an assist, and a first-period fight with Clark Gillies.

The Battle of Alberta: The Historic Rivalry Between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames

A deep dive into one of hockey’s most intense rivalries — the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames, featuring unforgettable games, personalities, and playoff clashes.

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7-7 Chaos: Sabres and Canadiens Combine for 10 First-Period Goals

On October 26, 1982, fans at the Montreal Forum were treated to one of the wildest first periods in NHL history. The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres combined for 10 goals in the opening 20 minutes and remarkably, all 10 came from different players.

Buffalo exploded out of the gate, building a 3-0 lead by the 5:25 mark, including two goals just 25 seconds apart. Montreal answered with three of their own midway through the frame, and by the time the period ended, both clubs had added two more goals each. Canadiens starter Rick Wamsley was lifted after allowing five goals on eight shots, replaced by Richard Sevigny.

The second period belonged to newly acquired forward Ryan Walter. Picked up in a September 1982 trade from the Washington Capitals, Walter scored twice, both assisted by Guy Lafleur, to give Montreal a 7-5 lead. He added an earlier assist to finish with the game’s only three-point performance.

But the Sabres weren’t finished. Third-period goals by Ric Seiling and Gilles Hamel evened the score at 7-7, where it would stay. In a night overflowing with offense, Walter stood alone with three points, while a long list of players on both sides recorded multi-point efforts in one of the most chaotic ties of the early 1980s.

"Then Perreault Said to Rico…": The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told

A collection of the greatest Buffalo Sabres tales — from unforgettable moments to iconic personalities in franchise history.

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