Fresh off Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner registering eight points in an 8-4 drubbing of Chicago, NHL.com dug into the vault and found footage of a similar Mario Lemieux performance.
On Dec. 31, 1988, Super Mario wowed the Pittsburgh faithful by getting in on every goal in an 8-6 win over the New Jersey Devils. It was almost identical to the feat accomplished by Gagner on Thursday night — as a result, the pair are now the only two players in NHL history to have eight points in a game where their teams scored exactly eight goals.
Of course, the two performances weren’t exactly identical.
Mario’s effort was extra special as he became the first — and only — player to ever score five goals five different ways: shorthanded, full strength, power play, penalty shot and empty net.
More, from the Jan. 2, 1989 edition of the Schenectady Gazette:
“That was Mario’s Christmas gift, a little late, to me and the fans,” Pittsburgh coach Gene Ubriaco said. “I’m not going to say it [Lemieux's performance] was awesome; I’ve said that too many times. What can I say? Someone once said we were a one-game team, and certainly tonight — when he makes up his mind, no one can stop him.”
And in case you’re wondering, yes, that is the first and only Gene Ubriaco reference in PHT history, which is a shame. Might make it my mission to include more.
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2012 Stanley Cup finals at a glance: Los Angeles-New Jersey preview
May 27, 2012, 11:50 PM EDT
AP
A breakdown of Kings vs. Devils.
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Shawinigan Cataractes beat London Knights to take 2012 Memorial Cup
May 27, 2012, 11:06 PM EDT
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Also: air horns.
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Anze Kopitar’s run to Stanley Cup finals creates “pretty big buzz” in Slovenia
May 27, 2012, 10:26 PM EDT
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If you’re there and rooting against the Kings, you’re one serious contrarian.
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Reports: Ducks might file tampering charge regarding Justin Schultz
May 27, 2012, 10:00 PM EDT
AP
Another rumor points to Schultz becoming a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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That Penguins-Flyers series made things kind of screwy.
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Reasons to root for the Kings, Devils in 2012 Stanley Cup finals
May 27, 2012, 8:02 PM EDT
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For those who don’t have a horse in this race.
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Top prospect Grigorenko looks forward to making future teams look bad for skipping him
May 27, 2012, 7:21 PM EDT
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He might go second overall in the draft or as late as 20.
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You know you were wondering the same thing, don’t deny it.
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James Reimer didn’t exactly cut it but is he the answer?
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AP
“Perhaps we had all been convinced we would win before the tie actually started. And that might also have been a problem.”
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DeBoer: “He’s here to win. He’s a team-first guy. He’s very unselfish and he’s just a great person.”
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Here are three guys from each team to consider and vote on.
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It dates back to 2004 in junior hockey in Kitchener, Ontario.
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Lou Lamoriello couldn’t be happier to have the Devils back in the finals
May 27, 2012, 11:15 AM EDT
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‘We’ve had teams that had success during the regular season, but just couldn’t get through the playoffs for some reason.”
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The Blue Jackets captain is looking at getting dealt at the draft or after July 1.
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PHT Morning Skate: Where the Kings are the oddsmakers’ favorites
May 27, 2012, 9:55 AM EDT
AP
A bit of motivation for New Jersey thanks to the gamblers? That and more in the Morning Skate.
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Should the Devils surrender their 2012 first-rounder to the NHL?
May 26, 2012, 11:11 PM EDT
AP
They still owe a pick as punishment for their initial attempt to sign Ilya Kovalchuk.
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Parise helped convince Devils to let players sleep at home before playoff home games
May 26, 2012, 10:33 PM EDT
AP
There was a time when they would stay in hotels in the postseason even before contests in New Jersey.
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A rundown of the some of the most noteworthy winners.
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Either one will best New Jersey in 1995, who won after capturing the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.
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