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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