Jan. 26 NHL History
1961: Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time scoring leader, is born in Brantford, Ontario.
Gretzky’s talents are obvious almost from the time he learns to play hockey. At age 6, he skates with 10-year-olds; at 10, he scores 378 goals. He plays junior hockey at age 16; one year later, he signs with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association. But after eight games, the Racers trade him to the Edmonton Oilers. He comes to the NHL with the Oilers in 1979, when the League absorbs four teams from the WHA.
Gretzky ties for the NHL scoring lead in 1979-80 and wins the Hart Trophy. In 1980-81, he wins the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s top scorer for the first of seven consecutive seasons and repeats as Hart Trophy winner. One year later, he shatters NHL records for goals (92) and points (212). The Oilers make the Stanley Cup Final in 1983, but are swept by the New York Islanders. They avenge that loss one year later, defeating the Islanders to win the Cup for their first of four championships in a five-season span.
Three months after the Oilers win in 1988, Gretzky is traded to the Los Angeles Kings. On Oct. 15, 1989, he passes his idol, Gordie Howe, for the all-time NHL lead in points by scoring a goal against his former team at Northlands Coliseum. He helps the Kings to their first Stanley Cup Final in 1993 after missing much of the season with a back injury.
The Kings trade him to the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 27, 1996, and he signs as free agent with the New York Rangers that summer, rejoining longtime Edmonton teammate Mark Messier. Gretzky plays three seasons in New York before retiring with NHL records of 894 goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 points, as well as Stanley Cup Playoff records of 122 goals, 260 assists and 382 points.
1966: Gordie Howe becomes the first player to appear in 1,300 NHL games. He has an assist in the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-3 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. That same day, Gretzky turns 5.
1975: Guy Lafleur scores four goals in a game for the only time in his NHL career. He gets one each in the first two periods, then scores twice in the third period of the Montreal Canadiens‘ 7-2 victory against the Penguins at the Forum. Bob Gainey finishes with four assists, including three on goals scored by Lafleur.
1991: Mario Lemieux returns after sitting out 50 games following back surgery and has three assists in the Penguins’ 6-5 win against the Quebec Nordiques at Le Colisee. Defenseman Larry Murphy also had his 500th NHL assist in the game. Lemieux finishes the regular season with 19 goals and 45 points in 26 games, then helps the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup championship.
1997: Lemieux ties an NHL record by scoring four goals in the third period of the Penguins’ 5-2 victory against Montreal at the Forum. It’s the 39th hat trick of Lemieux’ NHL career and his 13th four-goal game, matching the NHL record shared by Gretzky and Mike Bossy.
