Mark Pavelich Scores Five as Rangers Rout Hartford 11-3

Mark Pavelich needed just six shots to score five goals against the Hartford Whalers on February 23, 1983. The New York Rangers forward opened the scoring, finished it and supplied plenty of damage in between during an 11-3 victory at Madison Square Garden. Somehow, none of his five goals stood as the game-winner.

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Highlights

• Pavelich scored five goals in New York’s 11-3 victory on February 23, 1983.

• His five goals came on just six shots.

• He opened the scoring only 1:17 into the game.

• His hat trick was complete by 9:06 of the second period.

• His final two goals came eleven seconds apart.

• Kent-Erik Andersson scored the official game-winner.

• Glen Hanlon made 25 saves for the Rangers.

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Pavelich began his big night just 1:17 into the first period, beating Hartford goaltender Greg Millen with assists from Scot Kleinendorst and Mikko Leinonen. With ten seconds remaining in the period, he struck again. Leinonen and Vaclav Nedomansky assisted on that goal, sending the Rangers into the intermission with a commanding 5-1 lead.

Barry Beck kept New York rolling by scoring just nine seconds into the second period. Pavelich completed his hat trick at 9:06, and the Rangers carried a 9-3 advantage into the third. The result was well in hand, but Pavelich still had a memorable finish waiting.

At 8:40 of the third period, Pavelich scored his fourth goal of the game and 27th of the season, assisted by Rob McClanahan and Tom Laidlaw. Just eleven seconds later, Laidlaw set him up again. Pavelich’s fifth goal, his 28th of the campaign, completed the scoring in New York’s eight-goal victory.

The official game-winner belonged to Kent-Erik Andersson, whose sixth goal of the season had made it 4-1 at 18:36 of the first period. Robbie Ftorek and Nick Fotiu supplied the assists. Millen finished with 26 saves on 37 shots, while Glen Hanlon stopped 25 of Hartford’s 28 attempts. Pavelich owned the night, converting five of his six shots into goals.

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February 6, 1986: Andreychuk Makes Buffalo Sabres History

The Boston Bruins scored six goals at Boston Garden on February 6, 1986 and still couldn’t keep pace with the Buffalo Sabres. Dave Andreychuk supplied five goals and an assist in Buffalo’s 8-6 victory, becoming the first player in franchise history to score five times in a single game.

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Highlights

• Buffalo defeated Boston 8-6 at Boston Garden on February 6, 1986.

• Dave Andreychuk became the first Sabre to score five goals in a game.

• All five goals came against Doug Keans in the first two periods.

• His fifth goal, at 17:15 of the second period, was the game winner.

• An assist on Normand Lacombe’s goal gave Andreychuk six points.

• Tom Barrasso made 38 saves as Boston outshot Buffalo 44-21.

• Tage Thompson matched Andreychuk’s five-goal record on December 7, 2022.

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Buffalo Strikes Early at Boston Garden

Mike Foligno opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the game. Andreychuk then added two consecutive goals, giving Buffalo a 3-0 lead by 14:30 of the first period. Boston answered with two quick goals before the intermission, trimming the Sabres’ advantage to 3-2 and setting the stage for another busy period.

Three More Goals in the Second Period

Andreychuk completed his hat trick at 4:40 of the second, but his night was far from finished. He scored three times in the period, beating Bruins goaltender Doug Keans for all five of his goals through 40 minutes. His fifth, scored at 17:15, was his 24th of the 1985-86 season. It gave Buffalo a 7-4 lead and ultimately stood as the game-winning goal.

Boston coach Butch Goring replaced Keans with Pat Riggin for the third period after Keans surrendered seven goals on 17 shots. Riggin faced only four shots in relief, allowing Buffalo’s final goal to Paul Cyr. Andreychuk also assisted on a Normand Lacombe goal, bringing his personal total to six points.

Barrasso Handles the Heavier Workload

While Andreychuk turned seven shots into five goals, Tom Barrasso faced a much busier night in Buffalo’s net. The Sabres goaltender stopped 38 of Boston’s 44 shots, helping Buffalo win despite being outshot 44-21. Ray Bourque led the Bruins with seven shots but was unable to beat Barrasso.

Andreychuk’s performance established a Sabres single-game record that stood alone for more than 36 years. On December 7, 2022, Tage Thompson matched it with five goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The record may now be shared, but Andreychuk remains the first Sabre to reach that remarkable mark.

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