Wayne Gretzky’s 7-Assist Game: The Start of an Unmatched NHL Legacy

On February 15, 1980, a young Wayne Gretzky announced his arrival as a force in the NHL with a jaw-dropping seven-assist performance against the Washington Capitals. The game, played at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, marked just the fifth month of Gretzky’s NHL career, but it was a clear sign of things to come.

The Edmonton Oilers dominated after allowing the first and final goals of the game, scoring eight unanswered in between to secure an 8-2 victory. Gretzky was instrumental, assisting on seven of those goals, tying a record first set in 1947 by Bill Taylor of the Detroit Red Wings.

While Gretzky would later be surrounded by Hall of Fame teammates like Mark Messier and Jari Kurri, this early standout night featured goals from Blair MacDonald (3), Bobby Schmautz (2), Brett Callighen, and Dave Semenko. MacDonald had a four-point game, and Semenko contributed a goal, two assists, and avoided the penalty box. This was unusual for the enforcer, who stayed clear of the only fight of the game between Colin Campbell and Mike Gartner.

Gretzky would tie this assist record two more times in his career, but no NHL player has ever recorded more than seven assists in a single game. This performance was an early chapter in a career that would fill the NHL record books and solidify “The Great One” as a hockey legend.

Most Assists In An NHL Game (Runner-Ups)

Gretzky and Billy Taylor remain the only players to record seven assists in a single game. However, there have six assist games recorded 27 times. Wayne is included in that group, as well, with a six assist game against the Los Angeles Kings in 1985. Mario Lemieux had three six assist games, one with an additional two goals and two with a single goal added.

Lemieux's eight point game came on October 15, 1988, just the fourth game of the 1988-89 season for Mario and the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the 9-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, the only goal had didn't figure on for the Pens was scored by Steve Dykstra in the first period. Lemieux assisted on all three Rob Brown hat trick goals, along with singles by Zarley Zalapski, Bob Errey and John Cullen.

The most recent player to record six assists in a game was Connor McDavid on February 13, 2024 against the Detroit Red Wings. In the 21^st century, just McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Kris Letang have accomplished the feat. Prior to Draisaitl in 2021, there was a 24 year gap since the last time, in 1997 by Eric Lindros.

Bobby Orr Dominates as Bruins Crush Capitals in First Ever Meeting At Boston Garden

On November 7, 1974, the Boston Bruins hosted the newly formed Washington Capitals at the legendary Boston Garden. The Bruins, hovering around the .500 mark early in the 1974-75 NHL season, found the perfect opportunity to gain momentum against the struggling expansion team.

The Capitals, sitting at a dismal 1-9-1, were no match for the Bruins and certainly not for Bobby Orr. The Hall of Fame defenseman wasted no time, opening the scoring just 3:51 into the first period. Orr then assisted on goals by Don Marcotte and Johnny Bucyk, wrapping up the period with three points.

Orr wasn’t done. He scored again just 55 seconds into the second period, then completed his hat trick later that frame. He capped off a six-point night with another assist on Phil Esposito’s 14th goal of the season.

The Bruins cruised to a 10-4 victory. Orr finished with three goals, three assists, eight shots, and an impressive +7 rating. Esposito added four points of his own with a goal and three helpers. The Capitals’ goaltending tandem had a rough night. Ron Low allowed six goals on 19 shots before being relieved by Michel Belhumeur, who gave up four more on 22 attempts.

Bobby Orr proved to be a nightmare for Washington all season long. In four games against the Capitals, he tallied 16 points. Boston dominated the season series, outscoring the Caps 41-10 over five games. However, the third meeting ended in a surprising 3-3 tie, a small but meaningful milestone for the NHL’s newest franchise.

Washington Capitals Inaugural Season

The Washington Capitals joined the NHL, along with the Kansas City Scouts, for the 1974-75 season. It did not go well. The eight wins the Capitals recorded remain as the least by any team in a single season with at least a 70 game schedule. The team finished with just 21 points over 80 games, 20 points behind their expansion cousins in Kansas City.

Placed in the Norris Division, the Caps were fifth out of the five teams, a massive 92 points behind the division leading Montreal Canadiens. Tommy Williams led the team with 22 goals and 58 points. Michel Belhumeur was the team's best goaltender with a 5.37 goals against average while Ron Low recorded a 5.45 GAA. John Adams played eight games between the pipes and had a 6.90 GAA and an 0-7 record.

Twice during that 1974-75 season, Washington lost games by the score of 12-1, once to the Boston Bruins and once to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the match with the Pens, Low faced 50 shots and Belhumeur took on 15 in relief for a total of 65. In seven games, that allowed 10 or more goals. The most they scored in a game was eight in an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh.

Ron Low did manage to record the franchise's first shutout, stopping all 32 shots in a 3-0 win over the Kansas City Scouts. It would get slightly better for the team in 1975-76, winning eleven games and totaling 32 points.

Delvecchio, Howe, and Mahovlich Dominate North Stars on New Year’s Eve 1968

December 31, 1968 at Detroit Olympia: The Detroit Red Wings celebrated New Year’s Eve with a dominant 6-3 victory over the Minnesota North Stars, led by a powerhouse performance from Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, and Frank Mahovlich. The trio combined for an impressive 12 points in one of the Red Wings’ standout games of the 1968-69 NHL season.

Offensive Explosion by Detroit’s Top Line

Alex Delvecchio delivered a five-point performance, opening the scoring at 10:27 of the first period with his 15th goal of the season. The goal came off a setup from Gordie Howe and Kent Douglas, and it was just the beginning. Delvecchio assisted on all three of Mahovlich’s goals, as well as one of Howe’s, making his impact felt throughout the night.

Gordie Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," added a goal and three assists to his season totals. His lone goal was the only score of the second period, marking his 17th of the season, and came with assists from Delvecchio and defenseman Bob Baun.

Frank Mahovlich completed the offensive trifecta with a hat trick, scoring his 17th, 18th, and 19th goals of the season. His second goal of the game, at 6:14 of the third period, proved to be the game-winner as Detroit pulled away from Minnesota.

North Stars Struggle to Contain Red Wings' Stars

The North Stars managed three goals from Bill Collins, Bill Goldsworthy, and Danny O’Shea, but couldn’t keep pace with Detroit’s relentless offense. Goaltender Roy Edwards secured the win for the Red Wings, turning aside 22 of 25 shots.

The game saw minimal penalty activity, with the only infraction being a two-minute tripping call against Danny Lawson of Detroit at 12:12 of the first period.

A Memorable New Year’s Eve Victory

This New Year’s Eve matchup was a memorable one for Red Wings fans, as three of the team's most iconic players showcased their elite talent. The victory not only added two points to Detroit’s standings but also highlighted the chemistry and scoring power of Delvecchio, Howe, and Mahovlich.

Detroit vs. Minnesota In 1968-69

This game on December 31, 1968 was the fourth of six regular season meetings between the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars. In all, the Wings won four of the six, including all three at Detroit Olympia and one at the Met Center.

The second game was played on November 9, 1968 in Minnesota and was the highest scoring. Ten total goals were scored with the North Stars winning 6-4. The stars were powered by a hat trick from Danny Grant and a five point night (1G, 4A) from Ray Cullen.

In the end, neither the Red Wings or North Stars would qualify for the post season in 1968-69. Detroit finished fifth in the six team Eastern Division, seven points behind Toronto for the final playoff spot. Minnesota managed just 51 points and tied for last overall with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Because of the misalignment of the league post 1967 Expansion, depsite how dismal those two teams were, they were just seven points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final spot in the West.